SEBASTIAN De Chaves believes London Irish must focus on their own game as they seek to take charge of their play-off semi-final at Doncaster Knights on Sunday.

Exiles won 22-5 at Castle Park in the final regular season game of the season, and will be looking for a repeat performance ahead of the second leg at Madejski Stadium on May 6.

And De Chaves said: “It will be an extremely tough game up there and having played against them two times already, we know the challenge that lies in wait.

“Both sides have had two weeks to prepare for the game and I’m sure that they will have changed a few things. However, we must concentrate on what we can do and not the opposition.”

He continued: “The forwards have been working extremely hard all season on the scrum, lineout and maul, which have all come to the fore of late.

“We’re at that stage of the season where we’re comfortable with what we’re doing and there is a confidence amongst the forwards to go from strength to strength.”

Irish finished 17 points clear of second-placed Yorkshire Carnegie and a massive 33 points clear of Doncaster in the normal season, but De Chaves accepts they must deal with the pressure of the next two games – and then potentially the two-legged final – as they seek an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership.

He admitted: “It’s great to finally get to this point in the season and to manage this pressure situation. We all need to focus on our own individual roles, and if we do this effectively, then we will do well.

“The boys realise that it’s now crunch time and there has certainly been an edge in training already this week.”