Otley take on Bedford Blues for the second time within a week when Powergen Trophy rugby comes to Cross Green on Saturday with an eagerly anticipated quarter-final tie.

The kick-off has been moved forward to 1.30pm to accommodate any extra-time,

Otley lost out at Bedford on Monday going down 42-20 at Goldington Road but Otley coach Peter Clegg is hoping that his side can bounce back.

"We've all been in the game long enough to know that no two matches are ever the same and that you can't judge any game against another and predict the right result every time."

"On Monday we had seven lads in our team who were under 21 and I was very pleased with the way they played, both individually and as a team," said Clegg.

"I haven't been happy with the way we've been playing and was disappointed to lose a game at home to Rotherham that we should have won, so I decided to give everybody a chance to put themselves in the frame to play in the trophy game at Cross Green.

"We also tried to play a different style of game and though we were beaten, I was pleased with the way we performed. There was certainly no despondency in the dressing room afterwards and no harsh words from me."

Which is not to say that coach Clegg will give an unconditional vote of confidence to Monday's youngsters, who still have far to go in career terms, but it does open up his options with all his senior players available for selection with the exception of James Tiffany, who will be out for a few weeks after picking up a shoulder injury in the game against Rotherham.

Seasoned campaigners like scrum-half Dave Scully and front-row duo Justin Wring and Mark Luffman were absentees earlier in the week, as was the versatile Ian Shuttleworth (full-back), Waisale Sovatabua (wing) and lock Scott Connor, so there is scope for Clegg to tweak his line-up significantly is he chooses.

"We know Bedford well. We've had a lot of close tussles down the years and we have respect for them - as I'm sure they do for us." says Clegg. "They rested players on Monday, so Saturday will be an entirely different game.

"For us, trailing to Bedford on a Monday afternoon just after Christmas knowing that we were back at work the day after is not ideal, especially against what is essentially a full-time outfit.

"But on Saturday we'll be back to normal and we'll be at home, with all the benefits that brings. Bedford may have won on Monday, but they won't be looking forward to coming to Cross Green again.

"When we drew with them at the start of the season I felt that it would prove to be a good result for us and so it has.

"Now we have the incentive of taking a step nearer to Twickenham and generating more money over the bar with a decent gate and the added interest that being involved at this stage of the competition creates.

"Everybody is very positive and up-beat about the match and I fully expect us to be very competitive."

Earth Titans go into their game at Exeter Chiefs with a 22-17 win at Otley in their most recent outing to boost confidence.

The Rotherham side were also 17-10 winners at home when the sides met in the league in October, but they have to go back to March, 2002 for their previous win at Exeter.

In another quarter-final tie NEC Harlequins play host to Plymouth Albion. Harlequins and Plymouth have clashed on three previous occasions in National Cup competitions with the Londoners winning all three. In addition the two sides have met once before in league play with Harlequins winning 23-16 at Brickfields in National One on December 10.

The remaining tie sees Nottingham entertain London Welsh. The two have met twice before in National Cup competitions, London Welsh winning them both. In addition the two sides have met on five further occasions in league play with Nottingham's only victory being 22-16 at Ireland Avenue on October 1.

Otley's path to the quarter-finals saw them win 46-3 at London Scottish in the fifth round with tries from Kitching, Whatmuff, Brown, Steele, and Tiffany penalty try with five conversions and two penalties from Shuttleworth.

In the sixth round they defeated Pertemps Bees 29-22 away from home with tries from Shuttleworth, Kitching, Wring and Fullman and three conversions and a penalty from Binns.

The Blues' defeated Blackheath 61-0 and Esher 57-17, both at home.

The two have not met before in the cup but have met on 13 occasions in the leagues, with Otley winning five to Bedford's six and with two matches drawn including a 16-16 tie at Otley on September 3. In their seven previous trips to Cross Green, Bedford have won just once: 34-6 in September 2004.

Bedford are the reigning Powergen Challenge Shield holders having beaten Plymouth Albion 14-13 in the last ever final of that particular tournament whilst Otley are attempting to claim their first national cup semi-final spot.