Dave Wattam still remembers standing by his own posts waiting for Haywards Heath's title hopes to be kicked into oblivion.

Chris Sweet of Canterbury was teeing the ball maybe 25 yards out with time almost up and a whole season's work on the line.

It was the late-season battle of the top two, Heath led 6-5 and the London Two South title was up for grabs.

Then Sweet, the Canterbury captain, missed and some members of a big crowd at Whitemans Green danced in the in-goal area to celebrate.

That was seven years ago, when Heath last won this division.

The same title could be decided tomorrow when unbeaten leaders Jersey visit in one of the games of the Sussex season.

Second-placed Heath have won 15 out of 16 since their 20-15 defeat at Jersey in September and have been in great form recently.

Jersey have drawn once but had two points deducted for fielding an ineligible player, leaving them just one point ahead of their Sussex hosts.

There is one automatic promotion place with the runners-up going into a play-off for a London One spot next season.

All of which sets things up perfectly - and brings back a few memories Wattam, the back row man who ranks among Heath's longest-serving players, said: "I remember that Canterbury game so well.

"They brought their own camera crew with them to film it and their player had to talk to them about missing the kick straight after the game.

"If it hadn't been for Owen Ashton's two penalties we wouldn't have won. Hopefully it doesn't come to that this time."

Wattam reckons Heath's recent run of testing fixtures will stand them in good stead against a Jersey side who spent heavily on overseas players this season.

Heath were superb in the first half last Saturday as they won 41-17 away to Sidcup, the team who ruined Jersey's perfect record by drawing in the Channel Islands.

Wattam said: "There are some dire teams at the bottom of this league and some also-rans in the middle but we have had a run which has put pressure on us to perform.

"We thought last week's game was going to be as tough as Jersey, especially on Sidcup's own patch.

"Sidcup have got a big pack, they keep it tight and they have a dangerous back three.

"They gave us the wind in the first half and we turned around 34 points up."

The old days of a team get together at a hotel on the morning of a big league or cup game have gone for Heath as players arrive from a wider area.

Wattam said: "In the old days we all lived locally so we could meet early.

Now we get to the ground maybe an hour-and-a-half or two hours before kick-off to give us time to relax and have a bit of a joke. What we do before the game depends on the personnel we have had at training.

"We make an effort to go out and get some lineouts done but you can over-prepare. We like a short, sharp warm-up.

"We know Jersey have been scraping through games but you can't judge them on their results. I don't know what sort of team they will send out but I do know we have improved since we went over there."

Greg Parkes, a Heath try scorer last week, misses the game as he goes home to New Zealand for a wedding.

Otherwise, the red and blacks select from a full strength squad.

Kick-off is at 2.45pm and Heath hope to offer ample car parking on the training pitches for a crowd of about 500.

If the weather does not allow that, supporters are asked to park off the main road outside the ground without blocking the footpath.

Back in 2001, Wattam reflected on the thriller with Canterbury and told The Argus: "That is the greatest game Heath will ever play in their history."

They have scaled even greater heights since then. But tomorrow's showdown is almost as big as they come in Sussex club rugby.