"Cross Keys are always a competitive outfit and they will travel to The Gnoll unbeaten and with some confidence after beating Swansea last time out," said Phillips.
"There is no disguising the fact that we were very, very disappointed with the standard of play at Pontypridd last week. That is taking nothing away from Ponty who fully deserved their win but, to be frank, we were lucky to get the bonus point.
"But losing at Sardis Road is no great shame. Few sides will win there and Neath fans can take consolation from the fact that when we won the second of our four titles, we lost the second game of the season there too.
"But if it is to be a good omen, we must make it so by concentrating on restoring the quality of our own performance. We have plenty of good young runners behind the scrum in our squad this season and they will excite The Gnoll crowd.
"But we must produce quality, quick ball for them and avoid being dragged into boring spectacles like last week. We appreciate that, as champions, certain sides will be all out to stop us playing but we must overcome that as it is all part of the challenge.
"If you fall off a bike, the best thing you can do is jump back on straightaway and that is what we will aim to do against Cross Keys."
As is their custom, Neath name a squad from which the team will be finalised, with seven teenagers included among the 28 players named.
Dafydd Lockyer came through his first game for seven months with no re-action and is again likely to partner Wayne Mitchell at centre, with Wayne's brother Craig at prop. Speedy winger David Evans made a try-scoring debut at Pontypridd and he has already attracted the attention of the Wales Sevens squad.
Neath (v Cross Keys) from:
G.King, K.Phillips, L.Powell, M.Nuthall, K.James, D.Evans, D.Lockyer, W.Mitchell, M.Jarvis, G.James, T.Knoyle, B.Shelbourne, M.Jones, N.Downs, C.Mitchell, A.N.Other, G.Price, A.Littlehales, J.Richards, E.Evans, N.Edwards, H.Pugh, C.Ruddock, L.Evans, A.Llewellyn, J.Bowd, L.Beach (captain), G.Gravell
