BEN Strevens has declared Eastleigh’s mouth-watering trip to Bristol Rovers tomorrow as “the biggest game the club has been involved in.”

The play-off chasing Spitfires head to The Memorial Stadium aiming to end Rovers’ incredible 20-game unbeaten Conference Premier run.

The Gas have won 12 and drawn eight of those games, since last losing 1-0 to Forest Green on October 18 – the same day that Saints hammered Sunderland 8-0 at St Mary’s.

“It will be, probably, the biggest game that this club has been involved in,” explained Strevens. “It’s going to be a big crowd because they’re doing so well.

“I’ve played there when things haven’t been going so well for them, and the crowd can get on to them. “But, with them doing so well, it’s going to be a help to them. There’s going to be a big support behind them, and they’re obviously on a good run.”

Eastleigh are on a good run of form themselves – especially away from the Silverlake Stadium. Richard Hill’s men have won four and drawn one of their five away league games since a surprise 3-2 loss at lowly Alfreton on December 10.

Eastleigh have triumphed at Telford (4-3), Braintree (5-1), Southport (2-1) and Chester (1-0) in addition to drawing 2-2 ar Woking.

“It’s going to be difficult, but we’ve got a belief in this group that if we turn up and play well on the day, and we’re disciplined and do our jobs, then we’re a match for anyone in this league,” Strevens added.

“That was proved against Macclesfield. They had been on a good run as well, and having beaten them 4-0 at home last week, it’s probably the best time to go into a game like this on the back of such a good result. Confidence is obviously high amongst the boys.”

Macclesfield had won five and drawn one of their previous six outings heading into last Saturday’s historic afternoon in Hampshire. Eastleigh promptly handed out a 4-0 caning in front of a record home league crowd of over 4,200.

Hill’s men passed that test with flying colours. Now they face an even bigger one.

“This is another big test; a chance to show that we’ve improved as a group, going to a big team away, a team that’s doing very well,” said Strevens.

“If we can put in a good solid performance away from home against Bristol Rovers, then that would act as a yardstick for what we need to be doing now: putting in a good performance at home against a good side, and then showing we can back that up away from home.

“It’s going to be a tough game, but we have improved as a group. We can prove that on Saturday. We’re in good form and so are they, so if we can come out of that with a positive result it’ll give us a huge amount of confidence.”