The talented pair are members of the Easts first-grade team that will line up in Saturday's qualifying semi-final against second-placed Merewether Carlton at Maitland's Marcellin Park.

Win or lose, Easts will live to fight another day this season, but their days seem to be numbered because the NHRU has told the club they are likely to miss out next year.

The NHRU will reduce the Premier Rugby competition from 11 sides to 10 in 2009 and Easts have been earmarked as the team to go.

If that is the case, the game will lose two star players.

The 18-year-olds represented Newcastle and NSW Country this season and are two of the most talented young players in town.

"I'm still undecided at the moment because we are not sure about the future of the club," said Bambach, who played junior rugby league for Waratah-Mayfield and South Newcastle before joining Easts last year.

"But I'll go back to league if they do kick us out, because I don't want to play for another rugby club.

"I'm upset about it because Easts are a good club who have made a few bad mistakes and we are all getting punished."

Five-eighth Bambach was a member of the Newcastle team that won the Country under-19 championships, and he gained selection in the NSW Country side for the first time.

Flanker Gismondi was not selected in the Newcastle team but was picked to play for Country.

He impressed several Sydney scouts while playing for Country and one of them lined up a stint in Italy for him during the off-season.

"My father [John] is Italian so I can play over there, and the guy from Eastwood got me a start at Viadana which is near Parma," Gismondi said.

"I came home because of family reasons, but I've got an offer to play with a London One club next season in England.

"If there is an Easts next year I will stay and play here, but if there is no Easts then I don't want to play for another rugby club, so I'll more than likely go over to England."

Gismondi is also a league convert and played three seasons for South Newcastle before switching to union when he joined The Waratahs at age 16.

He stunned several rugby experts when he gained selection in the centres for the Newcastle under-20 team at 16 but could be soon lost to the game in the Hunter.