Gosport & Fareham's blue and yellow army can't wait to see the back of the international brigade at Twickenham tomorrow.

Not that superstars of the professional game like Matt Dawson, Budge Pountney, Olivier Brouzet and Andrew Blowers lack appeal when they grace the hallowed Twickenham turf at 3pm as London Irish tackle Northampton in the Powergen Cup.

It's just that up to 2,000 supporters of Gosport & Fareham will be itching to see their side take to the field at 5.15pm.

For 21 coachloads of supporters, at the last count, will travel from PO12 to TW1 to bellow their support for the peninsular men in their big day - the final of the Powergen Intermediate Cup against North Division 1 side Halifax.

In what can only be classed as an amazing day, not only for the London Division 2 South club but also for Hampshire rugby in general, it is envisaged 2,000 or more people will be at HQ, willing Simon Burns and Mark Wells's team to victory.

The club have sold around 1,200 tickets and booked an array of coaches to make the journey. But many others, from neighbouring rugby clubs and local pubs will be making their own way there as well.

Mayors of the twin towns will take their place, as will hundreds of mini and junior players alongside everyone - but everyone - from the club's Dolphin Crescent home. As chairman Alan Foulger joked: "Last one out of Gosport, please put the cat out!"

Come victory or defeat, it will be the end of an historic cup run, which, in honesty, could so easily have ended in round three when G&F crept past Southampton 14-3 or in round four when Maidstone, twice successful over them in the league this season, were beaten 26-24.

It has gripped everyone involved in the family-orientated club that houses four senior sides, hordes of mini and junior teams and a women's section that has expanded beyond recognition in just three years.

Club coach Mark Wells, who announced he is taking a break from the game following the match, has missed his original goal of league promotion but is looking forward to what he classes as: "The biggest game for this relatively small club."

"I think the club has been on a different playing field since the win over Macclesfield in the semi-final. Since that game, we have won only once out of four and that was against a very poor Old Mid-Whitgiftians," he said.

"It is not the ideal preparation for this game, but this is Gosport & Fareham Rugby Club and we can pick ourselves up for the big day. I would bet my mortgage on that fact.We will be more energetic, more on the ball and up for it tomorrow.

"To go into the Halifax game on this bad run of form is not great and from what we have seen, they are a very accomplished side. But, in the game where we had them watched against Sheffield, the Steelmen's pack got into Halifax's faces and they buckled." Wells has pictured the match not so much playing against Halifax but playing against a Havant or a Basingstoke - "sides of similar status to them" - and is confident his side can perform.

He added: "It is a one-off game. We have to judge people on the level of rugby they are playing and they are on a par with Havant and Basingstoke in our region. It does not matter that it is against Halifax; it will be like playing either of those Hampshire sides.

"There is a big league difference between the two sides and, without a doubt, we are going there as the underdogs. But this is Gosport & Fareham, the club with a huge spirit and a massive belief in itself.

"We will put our bodies on the line and that spirit will hopefully give us the edge on the day. It will be an exciting day for everyone involved."