Scotland women aim for top six

SCOTLAND bid this afternoon to qualify for their own 'final' within the 2010 Women's World Cup and equal their best-ever finish in the tournament.

With Saturday's bonus-point victory over Sweden in Surrey, Scotland increased their world ranking by one place to eighth position, above Wales and South Africa. They suffered opening defeats to Canada and France, but now have another shot at the Canadians, who were edged out of a place in the tournament's top four having come to England with sights set on the title.

The winner of today's match (4.15pm kick off) will progress to the 5th/6th play-off with the loser falling into the 7th/8th place battle. Scotland's best World Cup finish is fifth and coach Gary Parker and his team are focused on emulating that, but know they face a stiff task as they must overcome the higher-ranked Canadians this time to do so.

Parker has switched Stephanie Johnston to full-back, Lynsey Douglas replacing her on the wing, Tanya Griffith comes off the bench to start at stand off with Louise Dalgliesh at scrum half. Parker said: "It was great to reach our short-term aim of fifth to eighth place, but our long-term aim is to be in the top six."

The team features a mix of experience, from Donna Kennedy, who will be earning her 114th cap, and captain Lynne Reid to younger players like Ruth Slaven and Katy Gree, products of the SRU's performance pathway.

Scotland Women: (v Canada at Surrey Sports Park, 4.15pm): S Johnston (Hillhead/Jordanhill); K Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Millard (Team Northumbria), V Fitzpatrick (Royal High Cougars), L Douglas (London Wasps); T Griffith (Royal High Cougars), L Dalgliesh (Royal High Cougars), H Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), A Macdonald (Royal High Cougars), G McCord (Royal High Cougars), S Brown (Richmond), L Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Park), L Reid (Royal High Cougars) capt, R Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Worcester). Subs: S Walker (Watsonians), B Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Moffat (Murrayfield Wanderers), K Holdsworth (Watsonians), T Forsberg (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Newton (Team Northumbria), N Halfpenny (Melrose).