“Bargoed are difficult to play against – they’re very physical, come in from everywhere and are clever at what they do. “It’s going to be tough and it will be vital to concentrate and keep playing rugby among the muck and bullets. “I have always said that the league is our focus. Nobody has done the double over me here yet and I want it to stay that way.” Ebbw have been in superb form of late and have claimed the scalps of the Premiership pair of Newport and Carmarthen Quins on their way to the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup.

“What the cup has done is given us a higher level of competition,” he said. “The level of performance from the Newport and Carmarthen games could have resulted in 100 points against some league teams. “We have raised the bar and enjoyed some really challenging and difficult training sessions. “But Bargoed rose to the challenge themselves by beating Aberavon in the cup. That shows just how hard tomorrow’s game will be.” Meanwhile, third-placed Newbridge aim to keep the heat on the top two when they host Gwent rivals Blackwood at the Welfare Ground.