The magic wand of professionalism may have changed the face of English rugby union but it has far from transformed the fortunes of one of the sport's biggest names.

Glance around the club bar at London Welsh's Old Deer Park and you cannot fail to notice nostalgic and fading reminders of their 1970s heyday.

Names like Cliff Morgan, Barry John and Mervyn Davies serve as a who's who of rugby in the principality and remind visitors of the days when a visit to London Welsh was the most feared away day in British rugby.

But while others have prospered, the Exiles remain gloriously part-time.

Coach Clive Griffiths has stayed loyal to the attacking style of play which made Welsh famous and he could have his reward on Saturday.

With hopes of promotion from Premiership Two long gone, the Exiles face Coventry in the knowledge victory would secure a Tetley's Bitter Cup quarter-final against one of the big name sides London Welsh once terrified.

Griffiths said: "This is a vital game for the club's profile. This is the glamour stage of the competition and it's nice to get people noticing us again. The recognition is very flattering.

"The supporters here are very loyal but they like their rugby to entertain. Some of the tactics I see today turn people off the game and that is dangerous. People want to see tries and I hope we give them value for money.

"Coventry have a big reputation with forward-dominated rugby, so it will be a match of contrasting styles. However, we can mix it up with anyone."

With the well-documented demise of London Scottish and the Irish Exiles' decision to move away from their grass roots support, Welsh are proud to be the standard bearer of exiles rugby in the capital.

However, the decision to not offer playing staff professional contracts has dimmed the burning ambitions of their loyal fans to recreate the glory days of yesteryear.

Andy Currier recently left Old Deer Park for aspiring Worcester and Griffiths admits the free-scoring centre's absence has caused headaches.

"We are a part-time club and that won't change in the near future. At the moment we haven't got the resources to take on the Wasps' and Saracens'," he said.

"We wanted Andy to stay but he's at the end of his career and I could not stand in the way of him making money. We did the right thing by him but I'm sad and disappointed he's gone.

"When professional rugby began we were four divisions outside the top flight and fighting for survival. We've turned our fortunes around a great deal in recent seasons but we still need a financial base."

A number of legendary names from Welsh rugby history will be cheering on the Exiles against Coventry, led by club president John Dawes the only winning captain of a British Lions All Black tour.

If that does not scare the visitors from Coundon Road then May Boyce, the self-appointed cheerleader of the Welsh rugby cause, may even sing a song.