A distance of 211 miles, or a round trip of over eight hours, means that Bradford Salem and Old Alleynians know very little about each other prior to their Powergen Junior Vase semi-final tomorrow in Dulwich.

Just about all the information each has gleaned about the other has come from the internet, but that hasn't dimmed either club's prospects of a day out at Twickenham for the final on Saturday, April 5.

Salem, who won this competition the first two years it was held in 1991 and 1992 - when it was known as the Provincial Insurance Cup - had some tricky selection decisions.

The Yorkshire Division Three promotion chasers have preferred Terry Franklin to Matt Child at scrum half, skipper Mark Viner to Jonny Luxton at No 8 and John Morrell to Ben Scarbrough in the back row.

"There are some pretty disappointed people," admitted centre Neil Klenk, "but I am sure they will all get a chance at some stage of the match as we have six replacements."

Definitely, out, however, is hooker Simon Markey (ruptured hamstring), so Craig Buxton continues in the middle of the front row. But the good news is that Salem's most influential front-rower Simon Davies is back having recovered from a trapped nerve, and rangy second-rower Jason France is also back from holiday.

Alleynians' skipper James Franklin said: "We expect to have 500 or 600 spectators, it is also our 'old sweats' dinner and we are really looking forward to the day as a whole. Unfortunately, half of our clubhouse has burnt down because of an electrical fire just after Christmas - but at least the bar wasn't affected!"

Bradford Salem (at Old Alleynians): A Dalton; R Donoghue, N Klenk, L Bowyer, C Luxton; J Jacobs, T Franklin; D Luxton, C Buxton, S Davies, J France, J Morrell, D Close, M Viner, S Cowman. Replacements: M Child, B Scarbrough, J Luxton, J Bradbury, S Newton, J Fitch.