Hugo Southwell and Mike Blair in World Cup fitness battle

MIKE Blair and Hugo Southwell are in a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of the Rugby World Cup as they battle to be ready for Scotland's Murrayfield warm-up matches against Ireland on 6 August and against Italy a fortnight later.

Blair missed Edinburgh's final game of last season with an ankle injury and has not run since, while Southwell has been sidelined for a similar period of time with a knee injury.

Team coach Andy Robinson said yesterday that, of the two players, he is more concerned about Southwell - and was non-committal when asked if the full-back's injury makes him a doubt for the World Cup. "He's not running and it's a step by step process," said Robinson. "He's in his sixth week of rest and we think it is going to be another two to three weeks before he is able to run. Mike is also still struggling a little bit - he's doing everything apart from being able to run."

With more than ten weeks still to go before Scotland's World Cup campaign kicks off against Romania on 10 September, both players will be hopeful that time is on their side. However, they will also be conscious of the intense competition for places which exists in each of their respective positions, and fear that not being fit in time for the Ireland match could give their selection rivals a head start.

Blair is in a four-way battle with Chris Cusiter, Rory Lawson and Greig Laidlaw to be one of the three scrum-halves that Robinson will select. Cusiter and Lawson are almost certain to be in the squad, while Laidlaw's goal-kicking and ability to play stand-off could see him get the nod ahead of Blair. Southwell is up against Chris Paterson, as well as Rory Lamont and the uncapped Jack Cuthbert for selection as one of two full-backs likely to travel.