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If the train strikes don't scupper their plans, there should be 20 members of the Joseph family at Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, for the belated first encounter between Jonathan and Will.

They've all waited a long time for this momentous occasion, so there is a profound sense of anticipation, not least for the brothers themselves. Anticipation and motivation. 

While the siblings have a mutual respect, they are both suitably fired up for the launch of their on-field rivalry, at last, as Will's London Irish take on Jonathan's Bath.

When the pair meet Sportsmail at their parents' house in Berkshire to discuss the game, their careers and each other, there is nothing which could be construed as trash talk, but there is bullish intent on both sides.

'We've been waiting for it for a while,' says Jonathan, the older brother — aged 31 and a veteran centre with a half-century of England caps to his name.

'Two years ago, Will was on the bench and didn't get on. Shame on him! Then we were supposed to start against each other but he got injured. He bottled out of that! So it's finally on.'

'I just thought I'd wait until you were a couple of years older,' says Will — who has just turned 20 and made his Test debut in July, after a handful of appearances for Irish.

'I'm coming in now, ready for the challenge. We'll both be in the wide channels, so I'm sure we'll see each other and have a bit of banter — a bit of brotherly love! I'll make sure I seek you out a couple of times, just to see if you're up for it.'

'Good luck with that,' says Jonathan. 'Because of the age gap, there's been nothing before. We've always said it would be nice to play each other. We've got the opportunity this weekend.

'We played a bit of tennis when we were younger but I would always batter him!'

'It's all going to change this weekend,' says Will.

'We'll see,' comes the retort from across the sofa.

For Will, Saturday's game is a chance to make a statement about his own credentials, having grown up with constant comparisons to the brother whose path he followed, through Millfield School and on into the Exiles' academy.

Similarities have been highlighted every step of the way, even when he joined up with the England squad and shared a room with Jonny May, who said: 'He looks like JJ, he walks like JJ and he runs like JJ.'

'Yeah, I've had that a lot,' says Will. 'The first time I went into camp, I was on one of the physio beds and Jonny actually said, 'Wow, you are literally sat the exact same way JJ would be sat and talking the exact same way'.

'I'd still say I'm myself and that's why I'm excited for this weekend. I've always been known as JJ's little brother and that was tough for me when I was younger.

'There will still be the comparison but hopefully I can be a bit less in his shadow and be known as Will Joseph.' Jonathan adds: 'I do see a lot of myself in him.'

He spoke of the familiar combination of X-factor and the composure to make good decisions under pressure, while avoiding mistakes — essential ingredients for elevation to international level. But are they similar characters too?

'Yes and no. I'm the first-born so I'm a bit...'

'A bit more arrogant,' quips Will. 'A bit more privileged!'

'Yeah, yeah,' says Jonathan. 'And he's the last of four. Alex, our other brother, his twin, has special needs, so when he was a kid, Will would always come after Alex. So Will is the perfect boy.

'He would go to the tennis club and there would be a situation with Alex, so mum would be an hour and a half late to pick him up and he'd just be sat there like, 'It is what it is'.

'Not much gets under his skin, whereas I would be screaming — a proper diva!'

In fact, Jonathan soon dislodges Will's 'perfect brother'

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