Mike Schmid has started planning for the Championship with Esher just three steps from title heaven.

Esher have been top of National One from the first game of the season and now just need to win three of their final seven to secure promotion.

Their stunning 14-try demolition of Otley and London Scottish’s third straight defeat at Stourbridge means only a catastrophe will stop them securing the title.

Now director of rugby Schmid is turning his attention to the huge task of competing as one of the top 24 sides in England.

He said: “It’s not being complacent but I have been planning for an A or B scenario, whether we are in National One or the Championship.

“You have always got to plan ahead because you have to act quickly if good players become available.

“We have been talking to players and their agents and there is a lot of interest in our club, which has been helped by the way we are playing the game.

“We want to retain the core of the players who have done so well for us this season and maybe add around six to eight players, bring more physicality to the side and improve the strength in depth in one or two positions.

“It’s going to be an incredibly tough challenge to stay in the Championship.

"It means you have to be in the top eight to avoid the relegation play-offs.

“We will be competing against sides with £1million player budgets so that is the size of the task.”

Esher chairman of rugby John Inverdale added: “There will be sides in the Championship next season with budgets of £1.5million or more.

“We would give anything to have a budget of half that amount but we do not rely on one individual for our money, but rely on a number of sponsors, fundraising and gate money.”

Esher hope to close in on the title at Nuneaton on Saturday boosted by a crushing 92-0 win over Otley at Molesey Road last weekend.

Winger Sam Smith grabbed a try hat-trick and centre Seb Jewell collected 32 points with two tries and 11 conversions.

Schmid said: “I was very pleased with our performance and now we must keep out focus and try to wrap the title up as soon as we can.

“Nuneaton will be a difficult match. They beat Blackheath at home recently and I am expecting them to be a tough nut to crack.”

But Esher will be hot favourites after inflicting a 67-5 defeat on the Midland side at Molesey Road last December.

Schmid hopes to have Jonny Hylton fit after he came off against Otley with a hamstring problem but Tom Warren and Ross Chisholm will be missing with shoulder and hamstring injuries.