Coach Rob Dengate makes Sheppey underdogs as they look to move a step closer to Twickenham.

The Islanders travel to Surrey 1 leaders Battersea Ironsides in the regional quarter-finals of the Junior Vase on Saturday, knowing victory would leave them three wins away from the national final at Twickenham.

But they’ll have their work cut out against a Battersea side who won last year’s regional final and are unbeaten with nine wins and a draw from 10 league games this season.

But if Dengate gets the response he’s looking for after defeat at HSBC last weekend, Sheppey are capable of an upset.

He said: “Maybe the players had one eye on this weekend and if they did, they have a point to prove. It’s a massive game, our biggest of the year, to be in the last eight regionally.

“Battersea have a big pack and a couple of individuals in the backs we’ll have to take care of. We’ve got enough players who can do similar damage but we’re definitely underdogs, particularly as our away form isn’t as good as our home form.

“Promotion has to be our No.1 target but we are only four wins from Twickenham.

“Players have got to stand up and be counted because there were some disappointing individual performances against HSBC."