At 39, Mark Gibb knows his chances of appearing on rugby’s biggest stage are running out.

But that has not stopped the veteran second-rower banning any mention of the T word in the build-up to one of the biggest games of his career.

Gibb’s experience will be vital when Brighton Blues take on Yorkshire outfit Hullensians at Waterhall tomorrow (2pm) in the semi-final of the EDF Junior Vase with a Twickenham date on May 9 awaiting the winners.

Gibb said: “It’s £10 for anyone who mentions Twickenham this week and so far we have raised £30 but I expect that will go up before the game.

“It is difficult not to think about the possibility of playing at Twickenham and it’s probably my last chance to play there.

“When I was at Brighton University we lost in the semi-finals and then at Lewes we lost in the final for qualifying for the Middlesex Sevens.

“But to be honest, all I’m focused on is getting through two tough training sessions this week. Then I’ll start thinking about the game.”

Blues have swept all before them in Sussex One action this season, dropping just a single point and becoming the first side in the country to pass 1,000 points this season after last Saturday’s 117-0 win over Lewes II.

But Yorkshire Three outfit Hullensians knocked out favourites Leeds Metropolitan University in the quarter-finals and their squad, beaten just twice in the league this season, is sprinkled with National League experience.

Gibb said: “Because of who they beat in the last round I would say they are favourites.

“It’s bound to be quite physical but we’re at home and hoping for a crowd of about 1,000 who will get behind us.”

Coach Neil McGovern had most of Blues’ previous opponents scouted but admits he has not had Hullensians watched, preferring instead to concentrate on his own side’s preparations.

He said: “We know they are quite experienced and will be physical but we’re focusing on ourselves and not talking too much about them.

“The boys are fresh because we have managed to rotate the squad in the last two weeks and the focus and intensity at training this week has been superb.

“We are playing well and if it was me I wouldn’t have enjoyed seeing that the opposition scored more than 100 points in their last game.”

It is a big game too for McGovern, 25, who was appointed Brighton’s full-time coach last summer after playing in the National League for Havant and Haywards Heath.

Brighton have a ten-year plan to be a National League Two club and while Gibb might not be rumbling on to the Waterhall pitch a decade from now he is convinced the club he joined in 1997 is heading in the right direction after too long in the doldrums.

He said: “We’ve got Premiership facilities in the Sussex League. Hopefully we can go up this season and push on because the set-up is for a higher level of rugby.”

In the meantime, just don’t mention the T word.

Brighton Blues (from): Hutton, Ellis, Giunty, Economou, Groombridge, Salvidge, Gibb, Thompsett, Jenkins, Hannay, Roberts, Fordham, Hutchison, Griffin, Burns, McGovern, Finch, Lewis, Hallett, Treviss, Buoy, Swadling.

Hullensians (from): Andrews, Barkworth, Barry, Bates, Biglin, Booth, Burrell, Conroy, Ellison, Garnett, Harding, Jackson, Krebs, Lyon, McCarthy, Marren, Mathews, Paterson, Sanders, Smith, Vernon.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES National League Three South: Dings Crusaders v Worthing.

London Three South West: Bognor v Chichester.

RFU Junior Vase semi-final: Brighton v Hullensians.