Newick's cup adventure into the unknown takes them to Hampshire tomorrow.

And this time their club captain and landlord is going with them.

Steve Courtman, who runs the village pub, has been too busy behind the bar to travel to Bexley and Sheppey in previous rounds of the Powergen Junior Vase.

But he has been given clearance by superstitious club matches for the trip to Hampshire Three outfit Ellingham and Ringwood for a fourth round tussle.

Courtman said: "There were jokes about but I should imagine I will be going. It's a total trip into the unknown for us.

"All our ties have been close so if I was in their position I would be looking at that. We need to unleash our backs and use a bit of pace."

Liam Craig-Davies, matchwinner in the last two rounds, leads the side from fullback but key centre Adam Wrench has gone to New Zealand.

Michael Turner is a doubt in the back row with a pulled thigh muscle. Tom Elliott is on standby.

It is also fourth round day in the Powergen Intermediate Cup and Eastbourne have done their homework ahead of a home tie with Gloucester Premier high-flyers Spartans.

Committee man Graham Shiret took a look at them in action last Saturday and said: "They are a big direct side and we will have our work cut out, but this is one of our biggest games in recent memory and we are looking forward to it."

East Grinstead expect to be below full strength at Oxford Harlequins. Jim Trantham and Ray Hennessy are both out.

Eastbourne: Moore, Newell, Ashworth, J. Bremer, M. Bremer, D. Craven, Pysden; Webbon, Baldwin, Lovell, Norwood, Pullinger, Bedford-Turner, Hebron, Yapp.

Newick: Craig-Davies, Elston, R. Alexander, Byrne, Curtis, Thacker, Thomas; Wrench, Radford, Luck, D. Alexander, Harding, Rees, Ramm, Turner or Elliott.

FIXTURES (1.45pm)

National Intermediate Cup 5th round: Eastbourne v Spartans, Oxford Harlequins v East Grinstead.

National Junior Cup 5th round: Ellingham and Ringwood v Newick.

Sussex Intermediate Cup 2nd round: Pulborough v Sussex Police.