Adam Lazzari Wisbech head coach Richard Horne has urged the people of the town to make Harecroft Road a fortress tomorrow for the club's biggest match in their history.

Adam Lazzari

Wisbech head coach Richard Horne has urged the people of the town to make Harecroft Road a fortress tomorrow for the club's biggest match in their history.

The Fenmen host Castleford for a place in the last four of the Powergen EDF Junior Vase, which reaches its conclusion at Twickenham. Horne believes a large home crowd can help pull the players through to victory.

He said: “We had more than 300 at the win over Kingston in the previous round and the fans made a huge impact. Rumour has it that more than 600 will be at this one and it's amazing to see that the club has really captured the imagination of the town.”

He added: “A couple of players are having late fitness tests, but we've got so much strength in depth it's not a concern. I have what I call an impact bench because the players who come on are just as good as the ones already out there.”

Wisbech club captain Luke Feaviour misses the match after breaking his leg in a car crash but is part of Horne's coaching back-up team.

Feaviour said: “I'll be there on Saturday cheering the lads on and wish them the best of luck. Everyone is settled and itching to get out there. Confidence is high, there is no fear in the squad and we know we have the ability to go out there and do the business.”

Feaviour said of his replacement captain Mark Laws: “He will be absolutely fine. He's been captain several times before and knows how to handle the pressure. I'm sure it won't take away his focus from his own game.”

Laws, who works as a full-time strength and conditioning coach for Castleford Tigers rugby league team, insists Wisbech have a great chance of winning the tie.

He said: “Castleford have a very strong, physical team. Many of their players have converted from rugby league to union and that is reflected in the way they play.”

Castleford are second in Yorkshire Division Three but slipped to a 16-13 defeat last weekend in a top-of-the-table clash at Moortown - only their second league reverse and first time they have conceded a try in 10 games.

“They are no mugs, and no team in the quarter-finals of a national competition will be. But we've never had a big, physical team and have adapted our game to counter that. We've always had a lot of skill and pace in the side - our loose forwards are as quick as most backs.”