Rob Moffat calls on Edinburgh squad to build on momentum of Ospreys win

SUCH is the competition in the Magners League that, with five rounds of matches still to play (six for some clubs), every team in the table has a mathematical chance of finishing in the top four places and so qualifying for the end of season playoffs.

• Edinburgh's midfield duo of Nick de Luca, front, and Ben Cairns will be reunited tonight despite the former's hectic schedule. Picture: SNS Group

Edinburgh and Glasgow sit in second and third place respectively and, while Glasgow enjoy home advantage in three of their five matches, Edinburgh's split is the opposite way around with Rob Moffat's team on the road three times before the end of the regular season. It makes victory over the Scarlets tonight at Murrayfield all the more important, not that the coach is willing to concede the point.

"It's important we win all our matches," insisted Moffat, "not just the two home games. If you look back at our last match against the Ospreys (when Edinburgh scored five tries), it's really important for us to keep that momentum going."

"There are just five games left before the playoffs and if we go into a slump right now then we are going to struggle to make the end of season games. It's a big few weeks for us and the great thing is the ball is firmly in our court."

In contrast with the Scarlets who have rested Scottish winger/centre Sean Lamont and Welsh fly-half Stephen Jones for this evening's march, several of the Scotland squad have been rushed back into action without any ceremony; a hint perhaps of the hunger the players have for success at club level. Mike Blair will team up with Phil Godman at half-back, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Jim Hamilton all start on the substitutes' bench while Nick De Luca revives his centre partnership with Ben Cairns even if they were given the wrong shirt numbers when the starting XV was originally announced.

The Edinburgh pair will be on high alert ahead of this match since the danger men in the Scarlets' attack are their opposite numbers, Welsh centre Jonathan Davies and the former All Black Regan King who scored a hat-trick of tries at the same ground three years ago in Andy Robinson's first match as Edinburgh coach.

Despite King's best efforts Edinburgh were still victorious that day and they have already registered one win against the Scarlets this season, squeaking home by one point in the corresponding fixture at Parc Y Scarlets back in December. David Blair walked away with the man of the match award after creating one try and slotting a vital drop goal.

Once again Edinburgh will field a back-row trio of openside flankers in Alan MacDonald, Roddy Grant and Ross Rennie who are living proof that the importance of a breakaway "blend" is a little over-stated. Moffat points out that the blend is less important than the end performance and these three have been on excellent form for the club this season.

"Admittedly we don't have a big traditional ball carrier," the coach agrees, "but every one of this backrow carries the ball pretty well. They do compliment each other in a way and, especially with the game that we try and play, they can do a lot of damage at the breakdown by working in tandem. MacDonald has been outstanding as a seven playing at six this season, Roddy Grant has superb hands so he's slotted into the No8 role and Ross Rennie has surprised everyone after being so long away from the game."

The trio should help Edinburgh to victory tonight over the club that is stuck one off the bottom of the Magners League. The capital club have won nine of their thirteen matches against the Scarlets, including four from the last five.

"We ignore any recent form," says the coach. "It sounds corny but the fact is that any team can beat any other in this league, there is not a lot between a lot of teams. If we show any disrespect to anyone then we are going to regret it. Like most Welsh teams the Scarlets will be physical but they will also come here to play some rugby and, even resting a few players, they have threats across the backline. The players here are really excited about tonight's game."

In fact Edinburgh have yet to lose a home match against the Scarlets and, with difficult trips to Galway and Newport ahead of them, Moffat's men will want to extend that winning streak a little further tonight.

Edinburgh: Thompson, Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Visser; Godman, M Blair, Traynor, Kelly, Cross, MacLeod, Turnbull, MacDonald, Rennie, Grant. Subs: Ford, Jacobsen, Hamilton, Newlands, Laidlaw, D Blair, Houston.

Scarlets: Evans, Williams, King, Davies, Fenby, Priestland, Roberts, P John, Owens, R Thomas, Welch, Day, Turnbull, Pugh, Lyons. Subs: Manu, Rees, Reed, McCusker, Knoyle, Newton, Maule.

Referee: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).