Portsmouth-based Hampshire Division 1 Nomads carry all Hampshire's hopes for a Twickenham adventure in the Powergen Junior Vase last 32 when they tackle high-flying Surrey outfit London Cornish.

Second-bottom of the league Nomads, who have never gone beyond the third round, will have their work cut out against a side challenging for promotion from their league - but that worries them not the slightest.

Coach David Ball, who undertook his own Junior Vase odyssey back in 1994/95 when his Ventnor side got to the quarter-finals before bowing out in Devon, hopes that his new charges can relive that magic tomorrow.

They have, however, been hit hard by injuries and their side may be quite a patched-up one as they took a battering in last week's defeat against US Portsmouth.

The small club are still hoping for a bumper day against an outfit who may bring their own version of 'Trelawny's Army' with them!

"Tomorrow is a large step for Nomads RFC," said club president Colin Few, "but it is only what the team deserve. We have had a few close scrapes but we have never been this far in the competition before and everyone is immensely proud and pleased."

Ball takes a philosophical view. "We are very much looking forward to the game and regard it as a win-win situation. Either we progress, which will be good and add to the pressure, or we lose and the club gains some useful money."

Elsewhere, it is the rundown to Christmas with the final fixtures before the fortnight break but there will be plenty of bragging to be had at Southampton as the first XV take on the county champion veterans.

Friends and foes come face-to-face for this eagerly-awaited contest, with Phil Trant replacing Chris Read in the first XV hooker berth while Matt Simmons starts. Tony Cador plays in his fourth different position in as many weeks - this time going to full back.

The vets have Wayne Allen, Dave Ingram, Merv Guest, Alex Scott and Dave Griffiths all turning out for them in a switch from first team duty and club captain Marcus Coffin confides: "Confidence is high in both camps but the vets are very high due to the great season they are having."

Local rivals Eastleigh and Trojans do battle, although the Hampshire One leaders take the chance to rest a number of first XV regulars and give caps to youngsters.

Eastleigh are hoping to build on recent league wins with Jim Longhurst going back to full-back while Pete Noonan plays at 10. Christian Longhurst joins his brother in the squad for the first time this season.

The home side allow Chris Knowle and Aaron Shale first starts in the second row while Aaron Surtees and Shaun Thomas are included to allow those suffering with knocks to take a rest ahead of the crucial restart in January.