| Venues:DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh and Stade de Gerland in Lyon Date:Saturday, May 7 Kick-offs:12:00, 20:00 BST |
| Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio and BBC Sport website & app |
In the hopes of creating an all-Scottish semifinal in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors will face each other in one of their biggest matches of this season.
The Capital team faces Wasps at home during their lunchtime quarter-final. Warriors will then visit French side Lyon later in the evening.
Victory for Edinburgh or Glasgow would result in a Scottish derby in semi-final, and guaranteed representation at the final.
Edinburgh targets winning back its home form
Mike Blair’s Edinburgh have enjoyed an unbeaten home record since moving to the Murrayfield-adjacent DAM Health Stadium last season, until Saturday’s loss against Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.
Edinburgh, which reached Challenge Cup final in 2015 was level on points with Glasgow but lower with just one win. The Wasps are currently ninth in the Premiership, and were held to a draw by London Irish on Saturday.
Blair noted that Edinburgh was “obviously very disappointed” by losing their unbeaten home record.
He stated, “It is more of a statistic than anything else but it also shows that we are very hard to beat at home.” That’s what we expect going into the Wasps match.
“I thought Wasps did a great job against London Irish in the 60 minute period. Although London Irish were back in the game, it is a sign of the quality of the team that’s coming up here. We expect them fully loaded and ready for action.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for us get back on horseback. I think we did some really, really nice stuff on the weekend.
We like an open game. While it is a good game for the players we have, at times like the weekend when the rain falls, we will have to modify what we are doing. Saturday will be a tough match against a team that is capable of turning it on. We will have to make sure that this does not happen.
Warriors want to play at this level
Danny Wilson’s Glasgow are also coming off a defeat. There were actually two. Their URC expedition to South Africa ended in defeat for Bulls and Sharks.
The 2015 Pro12 champion Warriors are aiming for their first ever European semi-final.
Lyon is fifth in France’s Top 14, six points behind leaders Montpellier.
Wilson said Lyon is a team that poses a threat to the park and is very consistent at home.
“We want this level of play and to test ourselves against the best European sides. This weekend’s game is our chance.
“Returning to South Africa, we have had a productive week of training and are eager to take on Lyon.”
Townsend’s Watching Brief
Gregor Townsend would like to see both Scottish sides succeed before the summer tour to Argentina.
On 21 May, Edinburgh and Glasgow will meet at DAM Health Stadium for URC business. Their possible meeting at the Challenge Cup would be on the weekend before.
Scotland A will play Chile in Santiago prior to the three meetings against the Pumas. This is an additional chance for players to make international marks.
Scots with two European wins would be able to win the final at Stade de Marseille if they can get another European win for Edinburgh or Glasgow.