MALVERN Rugby Club manager Peter Woods is hoping fan power can inspire his side into the Intermediate Cup quarter finals and on to Twickenham.

The Spring Lane club entertain Kettering on Saturday, kick-off 2pm, with Woods hoping supporters can lift his side as in previous cup runs.

Woods said: "This was the stage at which the town really got behind us in the Pilkington Shield seven years ago, lifting the side with the Malvern chant which grew and grew until it rang round Twickenham at the final.

"We hope that we get a repeat of that crowd performance on Saturday. We know how focussed the team are, and the extra buzz which the crowd creates can really get them motoring."

He added: "Kettering will be no pushover, as we know from our game there last year, and we believe they will bring around 100 supporters with them. We are expecting a ding-dong cup tie with some class rugby. All for the price of a pint of beer!"

Last week's postponement against Belgrave has given an extra week for the recuperation of several key players, including stand-off Simon Phillips, number eight Paul Hart and winger-cum-centre Bo Kristoffersen.

Andy Ridley is also available, as is another Twickenham hero, Gareth Richards. Vince Hill and Alex Thomas also return to the reckoning.

Another county side hoping to make it into the quarter finals are Bromsgrove who face a tough tie at West Yorkshire side Cleckheaton.

Although Bromsgrove are a division higher than Cleckheaton in the league structure, their hosts are top of Yorkshire One and have conceded fewer than 100 points this season. They have also just clocked up a new club record of 19 consecutive wins.

Cleckheaton also boast an unusually high-powered squad for a junior club which includes British Lions winger John Bentley, ex-Great Britain rugby league international Graham Steadman and centre Steve Burnhill, who toured South Africa with England in 1984.

Meanwhile, in Midland One, Hereford will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they welcome Banbury to Belvadere Lane. The eighth-placed side come into the game on the back of a 17-3 defeat by leaders Leicester Lions but will fancy their chances against a mis-firing Banbury outfit.

Other eye-catching encounters see Midland Four West (South) leaders Pershore face second-placed Silhillians while Stourport travel to Ledbury in North Midlands One.