Moseley fear they could end up with a fixtures backlog following their second cancelled match in a month.

Plummeting temperatures forced the National One outfit to call off last Saturday’s home match with Exeter Chiefs because their Billesley Common pitch was frozen.

That followed the postponement of their game with London Welsh on December 13 when Old Deer Park became waterlogged and means that while some First Division clubs have played 19 matches, Moseley have managed only 17.

Head coach Ian Smith believes rescheduling the game with the Exiles should not be too problematic but Exeter might be more difficult to pin down given the already hectic league programme and the fact the Devonians have real prospects of making further progress in the EDF Energy National Trophy.

Every weekend between now and the end of the season – on April 25 – is taken up by either a cup or league fixture and while Moseley could become free during that time, the Chiefs will hope not to be.

“There should be a free weekend for the London Welsh match but Exeter is a different case, there could be a situation there. We will have to see how it works out.

“It seems pretty clear we’re not going to play them for a while which is a shame because we were looking forward to Saturday’s match.”

Moseley will hope to progress from the round four tie with Henley on Saturday week and Exeter are almost certain to make it through at home to Preston Grasshoppers of National Three North.

Round five is scheduled for February 7 with the quarter finals at the end of that month, the semis in late March and the final on April 18. If the promotion hopefuls make it that far Moseley could be forced to play in midweek.

The situation might get even worse before it gets better. Neither Moseley or Coventry – who had Saturday’s trip to Esher called off only when they’d reached their destination, are particularly impressed with the forecast for this weekend.

Smith’s men travel to Otley while Coventry hope to welcome Sedgley Park to Butts Park Arena, as long as the cold snap abates.