ST AUSTELL face arguably the biggest game in their history on Saturday when they visit Brighton Blues in the semi-final of the RFU Intermediate Cup (2.30pm).
Both sides go into the contest top of their respective leagues and bang in form, so the game should be a cracker, with a May 4 final at Twickenham the wonderful prize for the winners.
St Austell are 12 points clear at the top of Western Counties West, and only need one win from their remaining three matches to clinch the title and promotion. They have triumphed in their last seven games in all competitions.
Brighton, meanwhile, have reeled off 11 wins on the trot in league and cup games, and are 12 points clear at the top of London Two South East, needing one victory themselves to seal the title and promotion.
The Saints recently played back-to-back away games at promotion rivals Bideford and Wellington, who have an impressive home record, and won them both, and St Austell director of rugby Steve Murley believes those two successes have been crucial so close to the Brighton game.
"We have had two very difficult away games, which we won, and I was really pleased with that because that has given us a little bit of mental strength going into the Brighton game, and even more belief in the side," he said.
Fantastic
"To go to places like Bideford and Wellington and come away with hard-fought victories has proved to the lads that they can win on the road.
"To be fair we have done that all season, but this has come at a good time for us.
"We will travel up to Brighton full of expectation of being able to perform as well as we can, and see what happens, but to be only 80 minutes away from a possible final at Twickenham is just fantastic."
St Austell can put out a 22-man squad in the cup, as opposed to the usual 18, including two front rowers on the bench, and Murley said: "It has added a little bit more edge to training.
"We had what was effectively a beer match against RAF St Mawgan last week, but there were a few players out there trying to impress to see if they could get on the coach to Brighton, which was really good to see."
St Austell, who are seeking their first ever appearance at Twickenham, will be looking to deny Brighton an incredible treble.
The ambitious Sussex coast outfit have been frequent visitors to English rugby headquarters in recent seasons, winning the RFU Junior Vase in 2009 by beating Liskeard-Looe 32-20, and a year later they returned to capture the RFU Senior Vase by defeating Dunlop 32-3.
The hat-trick has only previously been achieved by Gloucestershire-based Hartpury College, from 2007 to 2009.
Brighton have established a strong link with reigning Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins in recent seasons, and that shows the quality of the opposition St Austell will be up against.
"They are a useful side," said Murley.
"They have got a great home record, and have won eight, drawn one and lost one there this season, and they are very similar to us, in that they have enjoyed a few promotions in the last three or four years.
"They appear to have spent quite a lot of time and effort nurturing and cultivating a relationship with Harlequins.
"I think they have got five or six lads in the Harlequins Academy, and some of the Quins' coaches come down and do some sessions for them."
With the match taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend, accommodation has been difficult to find in the Brighton area.
Run-off
Murley said: "We are travelling up on Good Friday and we are staying in Fareham.
"We have arranged with a couple of rugby clubs up there to use their facilities for a little bit of a run-out on the Friday night to shake the rust off our legs after the journey, and it will give us around about an hour-and-a-half's drive to get into Brighton on Saturday."
The winners of Saturday's tie will play either East Yorkshire side Bridlington or Leicestershire-based Coalville in the final.
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