Weston-super-Mare visit Hyde Park this evening (Wednesday) for a repeat of last season's Somerset County Cup final against Taunton but this time it will be at the semi-final stage.
The Seasiders head coach Paul Redman believes that, with both sides loosing at the weekend, form will count for nothing this evening despite both sides having a number of injury worries.
"Taunton are going well in their league and being one ruin above us they must start tonight's game as favourites but local derbies are usually tight affairs and being a cup tie adds to the excitement," said Redman.
"It gives the players a real opportunity to express themselves but we won't be giving up our hold on the Cup, having beaten Bridgwater and Bristol Harlequins in the last two finals, we will be looking to make it a hat-trick."
Weston hope to field a strong side with six changes from the one that lost heavily away to Bournemouth in the league at the weekend when they fielded a weakened side again due injuries or unavailability.
George Wright reverts to blindside flanker, Dave Swann is at loosehead prop and Simon Williams at tighthead, Joe Waterman at full back and Steve Thompson on the right wing.
Taunton will be without player-coach Simon Martin as the former Bristol and Coventry centre may have to undergo surgery later today having dislocated his left shoulder in Saturday's 30-28 defeat by Lydney at Regentsholme
Ironically, Martin dislocated his other shoulder in Taunton’s win against Bridgwater in the semi-final of the last season's Somerset County Cup and was sidelined for the rest of the season.
"I had an MRI scan on Monday and will be back to see the specialist this afternoon to see whether or not I need to have an operation," said Martin who will miss the remainder of the season.
"I have no intention of hanging-up my boots just yet as I'm just 27 so have a couple of more seasons in me but take time to have a good period of rehab and make sure I am fully recovered for the start of next season."
This game is a repeat of last season's final at Bridgwater & Albion's College Way ground when the Seasiders denied Taunton a league and Cup double with a 15-8 victory.
Martin added: "I'm gutted to miss the game but I'm sure that the boys will bounce back from Saturday's league defeat at Lydney and also avenge the defeat by Weston in last season's final.
"Realistically we have had a good league season since being promoted and with some ex-Weston players in our side tonight will have all the elements of a good physical local derby."
Taunton, with ten other players on the injury/unavailability list, will give a number of players late fitness test but Jason Luff moves to inside centre to deputise for Martin with Tom Popham coming off the bench to start on the right wing.
Dave Bufton returns to the second row in place of Jamie Fleming who is with the English Universities squad while Dan Johnson starts at blindside flanker in place of Fijian international back row forward Apo Satala who is in Hong Kong .
The second semi-final is next Wednesday evening between last season's beaten semi-finalists Clevedon and University of Bath at Weston-super-Mare's Drove Road Recreation Ground (ko: 7.30pm).
Taunton (home v Weston-super-Mare, 7.30pm):Gary Kingdom; Tom Popham, Stephen Ward, Jason Luff, Kyle Giblett; Tony Yapp, Mathew Newman; Alec Chase, Jon Gatford, Malcolm Hearn, Dave Bufton, Charlie Lenygon, Dan Johnson, Sean Fox, Nick Burnett (capt). Reps Chey Bryce; Ross Ward, Paul Smith, Samuel Saunders, Jonathan Martin, Joe Bartlett, tba
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