CHESTER have their best chance for years to win the Cheshire Cup for the first time on Sunday.
They should have faced Macclesfield in the final at Caldy's Paton Field ground (3pm), but the holders pulled out because of a league match the day before.
This gives South Lancashire-Cheshire League side Wirral the chance to play in the final, but Chester are not being seduced into believing they only have to turn up to collect the trophy.
It will be director of rugby Terry Allen's swansong before handing over to coach Steve Dorrington and he will be making sure his North One outfit goes into the game with the right attitude.
Allen said: 'We are the favourites, which means Wirral will have nothing to lose. We must treat the final in a professional manner.
'We've never had a better chance to win this trophy, but Wirral will be well up for it and we are expecting a tough match.
'I can't understand why Macclesfield pulled out. They could have still put a team out for the league match.
'We would never have done that. We must make sure we don't miss this opportunity to win something.'
He added: 'It is important to win because it gives us entry into the National Cup and that would help in the recruiting of players. When you win something you get noticed.'
The Chester team is: A Davies, Goulding, M Davies, Sanger, Withers, Hughes, Woods, Hedges, Ellis, King, Parry, Burke, Lyle, Johnson, T Foden. Replacements: Bellamy, Norcross, Germishuys, Dowridge, Jones-Evans. Chester are installing floodlights at their Hare Lane ground this summer.
