Following on from Saturday's overwhelming 62-13 victory over Harrogate which took the club to the top of National Three (North) along with Caldy, Fylde's Director of Rugby Mark Nelson said: "I think that we set a benchmark for ourselves and our rival clubs in N3N - both by the score and the manner of it.

"It was a classic team performance. The old maxim was never more accurate - the forwards determined our victory, the backs by how many.

"Saturday will be difficult for the club. Not only do we have a long trip to Hereford for a tough 1st round EDF Trophy game but we have four other cup matches for the senior teams.

"Some first team squad members are carrying injuries and clearly need a rest.

"So do some of the forwards who've played some hard rugby in these first six weeks of the new season.

"On the other hand, we're determined not to denude the Wanderers team (who face Waterloo) for the Hereford trip as that will have knock-on consequences for the Saracens, Vikings and Vandals as well.

"But there will inevitably be opportunities for a number of 1st team squad players to step up to the mark against Hereford."

With the greatest respect to Hereford RUFC, to say that Fylde's officials are looking forward to the 360 miles round trip to the South Midlands would be exaggerating matters somewhat.

This is the fifth successive away National Trophy fixture, most of them long distance, for the Woodlands club in three campaigns in a competition which is in its final season.

It's very likely that next season Fylde will be competing in a 16 team league if the RFU plans for a revised league structure come about and there won't be a cup competition to distract them.

The home club also seems to be treating the game in a very low profile way.

It might have been expected that the visit of a national league club in a cup competition would generate a deal of local interest.

But there's not even a mention of the game on the club's website.

The Gods are paying Fylde back for their good luck in 1990/1 and 1991/2.

Hereford were drawn at the Woodlands in the 1st round of the Pilkington Cup in successive seasons, both home wins, 22-3 & 17-10.

In 1991/2 Fylde went on to meet a star studded Leicester Tigers team in the 3rd Round at the Woodlands before courageously going down by 6-34.

Hereford currently head Midlands Two (West) following a very positive start with five successive wins.

One of their wins came at home to a club Fylde will remember from a few seasons ago, Dudley Kingswinford. Hereford finished 2nd in the division last season but lost out on promotion following a home 13-43 defeat by Hinckley in the play-off. This time they're determined to go one better.

Hereford RUFC has a long history going back to the club's formation in 1870.

The peak of the club's league achievements were in the 1980s culminating in a spell in the national leagues between 1989 and 1994.

In the 1980s they also moved to their current home, Wyeside.

As the club has grown, it has looked for a bigger and more appropriate base and a year ago announced plans to move to a £4M development on the periphery of the town.

Hereford chairman Guy Griffiths said: "We have become such a stronghold for county community rugby that we are bursting at the seams.

"It is not unusual for us to have up to 400 youngsters training at Wyeside on a Sunday."