A CUP final-type derby clash awaits in-form Malvern tomorrow at strugglers Hereford (ko 2.15pm), according to director of rugby Andy Longley.

The Spring Lane side brushed off the muddy conditions to beat Luton 5-0 in National Three Midlands.

Now Longley says his Malvern side, who boast a record of six wins from their last eight games, face a tougher task at second-from-bottom Hereford.

The victory over the Bedfordshire outfit saw Malvern go up to sixth in the table on 54 points.

Malvern captain and blindside flanker Phil Rawle is unavailable tomorrow and outside-centre Adam Billing is set to be out for up to four weeks after suffering from a hamstring injury.

Longley added the victory served as a touching tribute to club player 19-year-old Shane Taylor, who died last week after suffering from a brain aneurysm.

Malvern’s first and second teams united before kick-off before their respective home games on Saturday for a minute’s silence.

Longley said: “The Hereford game will be a bit like a cup final, you can throw the formbook and league positions out of the window.

“This is going to be far tougher than the Luton game last week.

“Last Saturday means nothing if we don’t play well against Hereford. They will pose a difficult challenge for us.

“Since the new year the results have been excellent. We’ve won six of our last eight games, it’s an indication as to where we are now.”

Tomorrow’s Malvern teams First-team v Hereford (tomorrow, away - ko 2.15pm), travelling by car, meet at Spring Lane at 11.30am, from: D Murphy, A Murphy, J Clark, M Williams, D Smith, R Gratwohl, C Edwards, M Lau-Leong, J Southall, T Longley, N Miller, R Fleming, D Hunter, J Aston, T Hughes, J Baker, M Jones, N Murphy.

Second-team v Bromsgrove (home, ko 2.15pm), meet Spring Lane at 12.45pm, from: A Almond, M Prosser, S Cooper, J Wilkes, G Marshall, A Green, S Clark, G Fraser, J Budd, R Jones, N Potter-Farrent, R Francis, N Clark, B Sharrett, G Richards.