KENDAL must beat their away form bogey this weekend if they are to win a place in the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup semi-finals.

Victory over Broughton Park would put them within one match of a prestigious final at Twickenham, but Chris Hayton, the club's director of rugby, warns that the Manchester-based outfit will be no pushover.

Broughton may be a couple of leagues below Kendal in the rugby pyramid, but Hayton says: "They had an impressive result on Saturday notching up 39 points against Winnington Park. In addition they have also had an impressive run in the cup so far beating Luton, current top of the Midlands division and also winning away at Stockport who convincingly beat us on their own ground in the league."

Kendal's major problem this season has been the inability to reproduce their scintillating home performances when on their travels. Unbeaten in seven home games, they have won only one away and lost five.

This weekend the players will be keen to banish the away blues and Hayton said: "Cup rugby is always unpredictable and an exciting diversion from the league and this game is likely to be no exception. Kendal are always capable of putting on a show but can we pull the rabbit from the hat this week."

If the form of last week's match with New Brighton can be repeated Kendal have every chance of making cup progress: "Last Saturday was a bright winter's day at Mint Bridge in terms of both the weather and the rugby played," said Hayton.

"The fans who taped the internationals and watched Kendal were rewarded with the best performance of the season and our first 50-pointer.

"We have been trying to play a much more heads up' game, with players given the chance to play what they see in front of them, and on Saturday this really paid off. Forwards and backs combined well to create space and width and some slick passing provided the finishing touches.

"The defence is still improving although the effective chasing and closing down after a kick can still be better."

Influential prop Billy Coxon is missing for the big cup match at Broughton Park as he this week had a minor operation to correct the heartbeat irregularity which has interrupted his career in recent years.

Hayton said that despite the operation he should not be out of action for more than a few weeks.

To cover Alan Martindale moves over from hooker to prop to allow in Warren Wharton.

Wharton was captain and hooker for Kendal's all-conquering Colts team last season and was on the bench for last week's New Brighton game.

Flying winger Luke Ladell is still bothered by the shoulder which he dislocated before Christ mas and needs a scan, so Kendal intend to field the same back line-up as last week, with regular fly-half Massey Tuhakaraina moving out to give added speed on the wing and Chris Park retaining the No. 10 shirt.

The coach leaves Kendal Cricket Club at 11.15am and the full squad is: Forwards: A. Martindale, W. Wharton, R.

Harryman; L. Hayton, M. Capstick; R. Quarry, S. Oliver, N. McKain.

Backs: J. Gough, C. Park: M. Tuhakaraina, P. Tuhakaraina, N.

Michelini, J. Ladell; S. Mulholland.