All to play for in final-game relegation battle

London Scottish play Esher today in their final Pool C match and final game of the 2011/12 season, needing a point to secure Championship rugby at the Athletic Ground for next season.

The largest crowd of the season is expected for Scottish’s final home game, as once again the Exiles’ season goes down to the last game. Last season’s head-to-head with Barking for promotion is replicated in this year’s showdown to avoid relegation and head coach Simon Amor believes that experience will stand them in good stead.

Amor said: “Those London Scottish fans who travelled to Barking will remember the amazing feeling of securing the win at the very end of the game. We are looking to repeat that win and feeling, though of course our visitors will do everything they can to stop this.”

Esher coach Mike Schmid, meanwhile, is backing his side to complete a sensational escape from relegation. They snatched a lifeline with their seven-try, bonus-point 42-17 defeat of Plymouth last weekend and that closed the gap on Scottish to just five points. Now Esher need to repeat that feat in the final play-off game at Scottish and deny their local rivals any kind of bonus point to stay in the Championship.

Schmid said: “We know exactly what we have to do, the type of game we need to play, and that sets the mindset for the game, for the players. We can do it.”

London Scottish team: Stuart Peel, Agustin Gosio, Ryan Westren, Charlie Hayter, Gerard Mullen, Dan Mugford, Jamie Stephenson, Alex Clarke, Adam Kwasnicki, Aaron Liffchak, Alex Karonias, Ben Thomas, James Kellard (c), Zane Winslade, Mark Bright. Subs: Tom Standfield, Alex MacKenzie, Josh Thomas Brown, Willie Lipp, Alfie Lalanne, James Brown, Ollie Grove.