Esher skipper Duncan Cormack has warned off mercenaries with the club on the brink of National Division One rugby.

Mike Schmid's team moved one step closer to the National Division Two title after easing past bottom side Harrogate 34-12 at the weekend with the help of two tries from their 31-year-old prop.

And promotion will be all but assured should chasing Launceston fall at second-placed Henley on Saturday.

The success has largely been built on a dominant pack led by England Counties captain Cormack, while the backs have helped rack up an average of 36 points a game.

But Cormack, the club's second highest try scorer in the league this season with 10, thinks Schmid must be careful when it comes to recruiting for the step up.

"In terms of semi-professional rugby National One is the highest we can expect to achieve," said the loosehead.

"We are going to need a squad of 30-35 players all capable of playing at that level.

"Whether we are successful or not is largely irrelevant. We must be careful with the players we bring in - we don't want people here just looking for the money, they have to buy into the club ethos we have.

"That is the strength of what we have achieved and that is something special we have to make sure we keep."

Cormack's brace helped give Esher a 22-0 lead at the break with full-back Neil Hallett also adding to his season's tally.

Scrum-half Mike Marsh secured the bonus point early in the second half, before second-row Emmanuel Amapakabo rounded off the scoring after a mini Harrogate revival.

Esher youngsters David Millard and John Reid made their debuts on Saturday and Schmid is likely to use the remaining six fixtures to blood others ahead of next year's challenge.