Skipper Martin Macdonald hopes Hove can home in on a return to London One South when they face Old Reigatian in their play-off today.

A bonus point victory for Hove last weekend - and surprise defeat for the London Two South West runners-up - means the two teams will slug it out at the Recreation Ground for promotion.

And Macdonald is banking on that helping Hove get over the line after pipping their rivals on wins and points difference for home advantage.

He said: “It’s a massive advantage for us. Our home record is very good but it is also having the Hove family behind us.

“The boys play very well at home and we have scored a lot of tries there this season.

“The Rec has been a fortress for us and we hope that continues.”

The club have been stoking up interest this week and there is a buzz about the place as they eye a return to London One South after slipping out of the division in 2014-15.

Macdonald said: “I’ve been at the club for five years and it’s the biggest game I have been involved with.

“It’s certainly one of the biggest games in the last ten years of the club.

“We have been trying to promote it on social media as much as we can.

“There are hundreds of volunteers at the club with a massive youth section, so we hope that ties into the day and we get a lot of people down.

“It’s a very big day for the club and hopefully we can do it proud.”

The centre, who took over the captaincy from the injured Sam Whiting in December, admits the players are anxious for the action to get underway after building up a head of steam in recent weeks.

He added: “The boys are really keen to get going and we are quite confident because we are on a good run of form.

“We have lost just one game at home this season - and that was against the leaders who have now won the league.

“We have had a very purple patch but we are under no illusions how tough it is going to be against Old Reigatians.

“The purple patch has come at a perfect time, we have won quite a few games coming from behind as well, which gives us confidence, but we’ve grown over the past weeks and that has helped us a lot.”

Picking the matchday squad has not been easy for the coaches, admits Macdonald.

He said: “We had a lot of options and the coaches were left in a tough position.

“There were a few despondent people who were left out but ultimately it has been a squad effort this season.

“It’s not about the 19 who are in the match day squad, it’s about the 25 people who have played this season as well as the members at the club.”

The match takes place at Hove Recreation Ground, Shirley Drive, (3pm).