Esher RFC are only two games from Twickenham after eking out a 17-14 EDF National Trophy victory over Blaydon on Saturday - but have National League One high-flyers Exeter standing in the way.

Mike Schmid's men will need to be more clinical if they are to earn a trip to the home of rugby, having been hammered 47-13 at home by the Chiefs in the league in November.

The director of rugby was critical after watching his side waste a string of chances in the fifth-round triumph at home to Blaydon.

And he wants Esher to be more ruthless, starting with Sunday's trip to Cornish Pirates.

He said: "We know it is going to be a tough game and we must make sure we are at our best.

"It was frustrating against Blaydon because we should have beaten them comfortably and we created plenty of chances. But our errors kept them in the game."

Schmid admits the pressure of playing in National One for the first time this season - a league containing many fully professional sides - could be a factor in recent below-par displays.

He admitted: "It is possible that the intensity and physicality of this division is taking its toll.

"Players are perhaps a bit tired and that is why it is important we try to manage them well at this stage of the season.

"We must make sure we keep our intensity and passion and not suffer the end-of-season blues."

Esher will again be without centre Bevon Armitage this weekend as he is on Sevens duty for the West Indies in the United States.

His midfield partner Rob Henderson could also be missing with an ankle injury.

That could mean Schmid keeps faith with the centre pairing of Toby Clouston and Doug Flockhart against Pirates.

England U21 prop Tom Warren appeared as a replacement against Blaydon after signing on loan from London Irish.

He also had a spell at Molesey Road last season.

Skipper Duncan Cormack is close to a first-team return after two months out with a broken thumb.