SATURDAY’S FA Vase semi-final second leg could be the biggest game Highworth keeper Gary Stevens will ever play in his career, but he is not treating it any differently.

This morning Stevens and his teammates will be making the long trip to the north east to prepare for the big clash with North Shields and the stopper is feeling relaxed.

Stevens knows what the Worthians have achieved in this season’s Vase is likely to be a one-off and is determined to enjoy himself regardless of the outcome at the Darren Persson Stadium.

The stopper has a pre-match routine he will be sticking too, it is just small details like his food and the order in which he puts on his gloves, but it has served him well.

Stevens has been a lynchpin of Highworth’s run. He saved a penalty in normal time against Tunbridge Wells and further two shoot-out saves in the same game. At Tadcaster he repeated the trick, making another penalty stop, as well as keeping out a number of other attempts in North Yorkshire.

Ahead of his next challenge Stevens was focused, but hoping for a quiet day if it made a trip to Wembley more likely.

“I’m not nervous at all, I’m more excited really,” he told the Advertiser. “It’s another big game for all of the lads and Highworth, so I might be nervous on Saturday morning but I’m just excited at the moment.

“I have my own routine that I won’t change, I’m sure all the lads have their own little things as well, but mine stays the same no matter what the game.

“It’s the same food, the same preparation, left glove first, left boot first, it all the stays same.”

With the tie at 1-0, the onus is on Highworth to go out and attack, while North Shields manager Graham Fenton indicated he would be quite happy to see Highworth try and break down his side’s defence.

“Teams are shocked when they come to the Elms and they see it and they think when we get to their place they automatically think we’re a long-ball team,” he added.

“I think if (North Shields set-up to defend their lead) we’ll score.

“We will create as many chances as we did at home.”