Mike Schmid believes defence will be key in Esher’s big derby with fellow title contenders London Scottish on Saturday.

Esher top the National One table after three straight wins but Director of Rugby Schmid admits the Molesey Road clash with Scottish could be crucial in the final reckoning in April.

London Scottish bounced back from defeat at powerful Cambridge with an emphatic five-try destruction of previously unbeaten Launceston at the weekend.

Schmid admitted: “It’s a huge local derby and we have been looking forward to this one all month.

“They have kept pretty much the same side that won promotion and I expect them to be challenging for the title at the end of the season.

“It’s going to need a huge defensive effort and massive concentration for the whole 80 minutes because one missed tackle could be crucial in a game like this.

“We must also make sure we play from structure and not try and force the game or open it up too early.

“It’s almost a cup final in some ways and one of the pivotal games of the whole season. “ Schmid hopes the fans will turn out in force for the eagerly-awaited encounter against one of rugby’s big names.

He said: “It’s the biggest game of the season for us in many ways.

There’s a lot at stake and we would hope to get a crowd approaching 2000.”

Esher are targeting young supporters this season, offering free admission to everyone under 16. Non-members admission has been reduced to £12 making a family day out at Esher more affordable.

Marketing Manager Nicki Dent explains; “We want our attendance figures to rival that of Championship clubs so we’ll be ready for promotion off the pitch as well as on it”

“We’ve increased our season ticket sales this year through promotion during the off-season, and now we’re working hard on bringing more young people into the club both to watch and to play”.

Esher are riding high at the top of National One after Saturday’s 21- 17 victory at Redruth handed them a third straight victory.

Tries from Shawn Renwick and Rod Turner gave the Surrey side a 20-5 half-time lead but the Cornish outfit hit back with Esher down to 13 at one stage after the sin-binning of Turner and Joe Marler.

Schmid admitted: “We played some good rugby in a 20-minute spell and that won us the game.

“But it wasn’t a good performance overall. There was some bad decision- making and too much turnover ball.

“It was a bit frantic at times and too off the cuff. We must play from structure more because you can’t expect to score from every play.”

Esher expect to be boosted by the return of skipper Dave Slemen at fly- half while Sam Stitcher has recovered from a hip injury and Mike Blakeburn is also available.