JOE Camozzi believes there is room for improvement for Northwich Victoria when they play the second leg of an FA Vase semi-final on Saturday.

A 1-1 draw with Chertsey Town last weekend leaves the tie finely poised but the full-back insists his teammates won’t be fazed by any notion the Curfews are favourites to progress.

“We know we can win big games now,” he told the Guardian.

“That’s something we’ve proven to ourselves in this competition and when we won a derby [with 1874 Northwich].

“We can play better than we did in the first leg and will back ourselves to do that.

"Nobody can deny that there is a togetherness about this group and that's only got stronger as we've continued to progress.

"The win against Newcastle Benfield was a big moment; when one of their guys went past one of ours there was somebody else waiting to make a last-ditch tackle."

READ > Everything you need to know before Vics visit Chertsey

Camozzi, 26, was the first signing made by manager Steve Wilkes last summer when he was persuaded to leave City of Liverpool to become a Vics player for the second time.

A brief spell in 2011 ended without making a single appearance but this time around he has been an important figure from the start.

He said a tone set by the former Padiham boss had helped bring together a group that is comfortable in its own skin and not daunted by taking one last step towards a Wembley final in May.

He said: “I’ll be honest, I was nervous [last weekend] but I think that edge can help.

“I’ve played in finals previously but this tie is probably the biggest I’ve been part of.

“It’s hard not to have been distracted since the draw was made and no matter what people say it’s impossible avoid thinking about getting through.

"As a player, you wonder whether you'll ever get another opportunity to play at Wembley; it's a strange contradiction because on one hand it's within your grasp but on another it's still so far away.

“We’ve been well prepared and the manager has been positive; he wanted our mind-set to be that we can win both legs of the semi-final.”

READ > Vics 1-1 Chertsey: talking points

There are no away goals in the FA Vase and so one side must win to clinch a date with Cray Valley Paper Mills in May.

Vics are battle-hardened too after progressing in each of the past two rounds after extra-time.

Curiously, games against Histon and then Sholing were tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes too.

Chertsey are unbeaten in front of their own supporters in the Combined Counties League’s top-flight this season, a fact Wilkes believes brings with it pressure to progress.

READ > Why Steve Wilkes says Chertsey are favourites to reach FA Vase final

Camozzi said: “I think last weekend was one of those rare occasions when both teams were content with the result.

“The wind was awful and it affected both halves; they struggled with it against them in the second as much as we had in the first.

“I suppose they’ll be happy to have home advantage and not be behind.

“But we’ve seen them up close and can work on ways in which we can exploit their weaknesses.

“We wanted the tie to be alive and it very much is.”