Paul Sampson has painful memories of the last time he made it to a cup final.

The 31-year-old former England flyer played for Wasps against Newcastle in the RFU Knockout Cup in 1999, having been a substitute in the previous year's final against Saracens.

Now, with his current side London Welsh just two steps from the final of the same competition, now called the EDF Energy cup, the winger wants to make a better impact this time.

He said: "I remember getting a dead calf making a leg-arm tackle, I could hardly walk and I was replaced by Kenny Logan early in the second-half."

Welsh host Moseley on in the quarter-finals on Saturday, having edged past Cambridge 23-22 in the last round.

And if they win, Welsh will book a place in their first semi-final since 1985, when they lost to Bath in the final.

Sampson said: "I would guess, individually, the players have thought a little bit about a possible Twickenham final.

"But it has got to be one step at a time as there are some very good teams left in the competition."

Sampson bagged a try in that win over Cambridge, but admis he's been enviously eyeing position of the man who set him up.

He said: "Mark Harris put me in to score, very unselfishly.

"Mark's been playing very well at full-back, which is keeping me out of my favourite position and on the wing.

"But if we're all firing together, we like to think we're a pretty ambitious back line."

Sampson also notched a try in the closing minutes when beat Molesey 15-9 on the opening day of the National One season.

But he expects a very different Molesey side to visit Old Deer Park this week.

He said: "Both sides have changed since then and I wouldn't read too much into that result.

"Welsh are still learning as a professional team in our first season being full-time, and we have come a long way since the first match."

Since leaving Wasps, Sampson has switched codes back and forth, playing rugby league for Wakefield and London Broncos as well as union for Worcester, Blackheath and Bath.

These days, he is a family man living in Virginia Water with his long-term partner, Sky TV presenter Kirsty Gallagher.

He added: "Being a full-time player wasn't something I'd envisaged when I signed for London Welsh two years ago.

"But it has worked out brilliantly. The club have got plans to expand further on the professional side and I am delighted to be a part of it."

Welsh were holding Exeter 16-16 until the last four minutes last Saturday before the Chiefs got a winning try to win 21-16.

Harris kicked 11 points, while Michael Tagacakibau notched Welsh's sole try.