THE way Joel Brownhill tells it, Northwich Victoria are playing just another game next weekend.

Maybe he’s on to something.

“I’m the most laid-back person in the world,” he said.

“You can ask my Mrs!”

He agrees when the Guardian asked him if an FA Vase semi-final against Chertsey Town, the first leg of which takes place at Wincham Park, will be the biggest game he’s played in.

At stake is a place in the final at Wembley.

But Brownhill still isn’t fazed.

READ > When Vics will play rearranged FA Vase semi-final

He added: “I’ve thought about it a lot since the draw was made, I have to be honest.

“At this stage it’s pointless looking at who you might get because all the teams will be good.

“For me, it was a case of finding out where we’d be travelling to.

“I’m excited, not nervous.

“The truth is we haven’t done anything yet, and so it’s best to tell yourself the final is still miles away.”

The 26-year-old, recruited last summer by manager Steve Wilkes from North West Counties League rivals Ashton Athletic, is Vics’ leading-scorer this season with 21 goals.

He’s netted twice in the FA Vase, including a stunning opener in a 3-2 win at Northern League side Newcastle Benfield in January.

In his view, that victory was a turning point in Vics’ campaign.

“It was big for us,” he said.

“We blew them out of the water in the first 45 minutes up there, and they couldn’t get near us.

“Everybody expected us to get beat, or at least struggle against them, and the opposite happened.

“It was also probably the first time the fans really showed what they can be like too.”

They have not looked back.

Triumphs in extra-time, both of them by 3-1 and against 10 men, have accounted for Histon and then Sholing in the rounds since.

It leaves Chertsey as one remaining obstacle.

READ > Everything you need to know about the FA Vase semi-finals

Brownhill insists he isn’t distracted by talk of who are favourites or whether a two-legged tie changes his own approach.

He said: “At our level you can play a team one week and beat them 5-0 only to get beat by the same score the next game.

“I don’t think it matters if you’re at home first, and in any case we’ve been pretty good on the road anyway.

“It’s more about attitude on the day; who wants it more? Who handles it best?

“That’ll decide it in the end.”

There is a familiar theme with Wilkes’ men facing an opponent who are favourites to win a title, in the Curfews’ case it’s the Combined Counties League Premier Division, and who seldom lose.

Like Vics, Chertsey have also toppled fancied hosts from the north east when they knocked out West Auckland in the last eight.

But it doesn’t scare Northwich.

Brownhill said: “We have grown in confidence.

“There are a lot of new lads here this season and it’s fair to say it’s taken a bit of time for us to gel as a team.

“But look at our form – this is the best run we’ve been on right now.”

The first leg has been rearranged for next Sunday, March 24, after this afternoon's scheduled encounter was postponed on Friday lunchtime.