Head coach for the All Golds, Brad Hepi commented: "The squad is massively excited, and looking forward to what is such a huge occasion for the team. They've all been giving absolutely everything in training, and we've got a very talented squad from which to start this campaign. The only difficult decision for me now is to decide who starts on Sunday."
The fixture is the first of four confirmed matches in the competition, with the opportunity to progress further if results go well. Here they could face some of the sport's oldest and most historic teams such as Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Oldham and Leigh. It also comes on the back of an extremely successful season in which the squad were crowned Champions of Great Britain in the University National Premier League.
Brad, who has 13 caps for New Zealand Maoris, feels this form will be an important factor ahead of their debut, but is also aware of the tough opposition they face. He said: "The boys have had a great season, and confidence is sky high, so right now it's just up to the players to carry that momentum into the match. They're going to have to raise their game to a whole new level though, and the question I'm putting to them is how quickly they can adapt to that speed and intensity, not only as individuals but also as a team."
Sundays match also has a touch of deja vu about it, with the county's first ever amateur victory in the sport occurring against Hemel back in the 1980s, when they played Cheltenham.
Commenting on the All Golds chances ahead of the game Hepi added: "Hemel are an established outfit, but I believe we've got the ability within the squad to beat them on Sunday, and we'll be going all out to get our first win in professional rugby."
All Golds' Scotland international Michael Stewart, added to this positivity stating: "We have a great team spirit and have had some very tough training sessions during the past few months to prepare us for this moment. We don't think that progression from the group stages is beyond us, and we are determined to make the biggest impact possible."
The game marks a remarkable turn in fortunes for the club who failed to win a game at university level just two years ago. It also begins the countdown to the squad's debut in the Kingstone Press Championship 1 at home, on Good Friday (29 March) against Oxford. Kick-off is at 3pm.
The team will be selected from the following squad:
Tickets are available at www.allgoldsrugby.com. Adults cost £10 and concessions £6.
The full All Golds Squad list:
Callum Mulkeen, Conrad Jones, Connor Jones, Dale Cooper, James Gahan, James Greene, James Walter, Joe McClean, Joel James, Jordan Rice, Josh Williams, Marcus Brooker, Marcus Brown, Matthew Bradley, Maxime Claustres, Michael Venn, Michael Norman, Michael Stewart, Nicolas Flanaghan, Ollie Yeats, Patrick Evans, Philip Cowburn, Richard Jones, Rory Sharratt, Sam Blaney, Tawanda Cuipadza, Timothy Bergin, Tyla Hepi, Yannic Parker.
Hemel Stags Squad list:
Mike Forgham, Ash Fyson, Arron Small, Barry-John Swindells, Harry Mostyn, Chris Stevenson, Chad Sharpe, Aidan Pritchard, Joel Miranda, James Howitt, Alex Ingerfield, Shane Grady, Jack Molloy, Ian Keevil, Eddie MBaraga, Mike Bishay, Wayne Kelly, Dan Ljizouli
Match Officials:
P Brooke, R Griffiths, R Gaskell, I Curzon, G Kershaw
