JONTY Clarke feels tonight’s Olympic Games semi-final clash with Holland will be by far the biggest game of his whole career.

The former Southend High School pupil is closing in on 200 international hockey caps after nine years at the very top of the sport.

But he believes nothing he has experienced before will compare to this evening’s showdown with the Dutch.

“This is comfortably the biggest game I’ve ever had in my career,” Clarke told the Echo from the Olympic village.

“We’ve been in World Cup semi-finals before but the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of our sport so this will be bigger.

“The only thing that can beat it is an Olympic final so hopefully come the weekend this game against the Dutch will have been just the second biggest of my career.”

Britain go in to the game at the Riverbank Arena having not lost any of their five group matches during qualification.

However, Clarke insists that will now count for nothing as the competition switches to a knock-out format.

“Everyone is starting again now in a way,” said Clarke.

“What has happened already doesn’t matter – it’s all about what happens from here and we want to make sure we do well.”

But that will be tough against the Dutch who breezed through qualification with five successive wins.

And Clarke is therefore expecting a difficult encounter this evening.

“Holland have a real heritage and history in the sport so every time you play them you know it will be hard and this evening won’t be any different,” said Clarke.

“They have some of the best technical players in the world so we’re certainly under no illusions about how tough it will be.

“But we’ve been playing well too and having 16,000 fans right behind us is a fantastic feeling so hopefully that can make a difference.”

The Rochford born Clarke will again also be looking to play a pivotal part in the match having already scored twice during the Games.

Yet he is not concerned by his fine form in front of goal.

“I don’t judge my performances by the goals I score ,” said Clarke.

“I would have been just as happy with my performances even if I hadn’t scored.

“Of course it’s a nice feeling when you do get a goal but I’m not worried who gets the goals tonight just as long as they’re in our team.”

The game, which will again be played in front of a sell out crowd, starts at 8pm and follows the other semi-final between Australia and Germany.