Keys host the Trailfinders at Pandy Park having lost just four times all season. Two of those defeats have come against Leinster A, the side top of Pool 1 and 10 points clear of Keys in the cross-border competition.
As they continue to search for a quarter final spot, Keys have been in good recent form. They progressed to the second round of the SWALEC Cup last weekend with a 23-17 win over Neath and got the better of Aberavon before Christmas.
“It’s up to us to see if we can qualify, a runner’s up spot is still within our grasp,” said Woods.
“We’ll need 10 points from our next two games and it will be very difficult, we know that. Ealing are a very tough side and they’ve come into form in the last few weeks. They’ve beaten Moseley and Nottingham in the last month but we’re at home and we’ll be giving it a right crack.”
In fourth place in the Principality Premiership, Keys have had a successful first half of the season with only top two Pontypridd and Carmarthen Quins beating them domestically. In the away fixture against the Trailfinders earlier this season, Woods saw his side win 24-15 and is hopeful of a similar result this weekend.
“We’ve always wanted to compete on all three fronts and if we win on Saturday, then we’ll still be in contention in the British & Irish Cup,” he added.
“We had a fairly quiet Christmas and were a little bit rusty against Neath in the SWALEC Cup last weekend. It’s always nice to win at The Gnoll though and we’ve had some good training sessions this week.
“The squad is fit and healthy and our home games in the British & Irish Cup are the marquee fixtures for the club.”
While not looking past Saturday’s game, Woods reckons his side are in with a shout of the Premiership title.
“Looking at the league, we have to be aiming for a play-off spot,” he said. “We’ve only lost two league games all season but we’re half way through the season and there’s a long way to go to the finish. The Premiership is a lot tighter this season and I think the top five sides at the moment will all be in contention to compete for the title.”
Returning to British & Irish Cup action, Pontypridd also remain in contention for a quarter final place. The Sardis Road club are currently top of Pool 2, level on points with London Scottish and two clear of London Welsh in third.
Pontypridd travel to the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on Sunday to take on London Welsh with both sides in need of a win. The Exiles must win to maintain any hope of progressing from the pool while an away victory could keep Pontypridd in pole position. The other Pool 2 fixture sees London Scottish travel to Edinburgh Academicals.
“This is a massive game for us” said Pontypridd coach Paul John.
“It’s tight at the top of our qualifying pool and after going down to a narrow defeat at London Scottish last time out, we need to go on another cross border raid and come away with a result.
“It will undoubtedly be a tough challenge and Justin Burnell will want nothing more than to get one over on us and cancel out our win at Sardis Road back in October.”
The previous fixture between the two sides saw an attendance of 3,400 – the highest in the British & Irish Cup this season. John added: “We will need our players to be on top form and our travelling support to be there in numbers to spur us on. This will be another opportunity for Pontypridd to make a statement of intent, going head to head against a fully professional side.
“We aim to come away from the Kassam Stadium on Sunday with our destiny still in our own hands and with a chance to progress in the British & Irish Cup.”
The other two fixtures involving Welsh clubs see Llanelli host Bedford Blues while Aberavon travel to face Bristol. Llanelli sit in third place in Pool 3, five points adrift of Rotherham at the top and know a win is vital if they are to have any hopes of progressing.
Aberavon face a tough trip to the Memorial Ground with Bristol centre Andy Short, who has scored four tries in four Pool 5 fixtures, a particular danger to the Wizards.
British & Irish Cup fixtures (All kick-offs 3pm)
Saturday, January 11
Cross Keys v Ealing Trailfinders
Llanelli v Bedford Blues
Sunday, January 12
London Welsh v Pontypridd
Bristol Rugby v Aberavon
