Richie Vernon and Al Dickinson may have only an hour in the frenzy of Saturday’s Murrayfield test match to make their best case to go to the Rugby World Cup.
However both Dundee High School former pupils are doing their best to relax ahead of the second EMC Test against Italy, the last chance for the Scotland squad to impress before the RWC squad is confirmed on Monday.
Vernon is recalled to No 8 and many believe he is in a battle with his former flat-mate Johnnie Beattie for one place on the plane to New Zealand, while Dickinson is set to be one of a handful of players who will see action in both warm-ups, auguring well for the prop getting his second World Cup trip having made his Scotland debut in the 2007 tournament.
For Vernon, a spell playing open-side for Glasgow last year before leaving for Sale in the summer might just have helped his cause.
The 24-year-old said: “I don’t know if it’s a straight race between me and Johnnie. We don’t know how many back rows Andy will take and he’s got a few options with guys who can play different positions.
“Versatility could help. I played pretty much at seven for six or seven games at the end of last year and really enjoyed it, and it’s another string to my bow, as well as it’s a help to cover as many positions in case of injury.
“But my aim is to be the best eight I can be.”I feel that’s my role and this weekend’s the chance to prove myself there.”
The pressure to perform this weekend is acute, but no greater than Vernon has felt in the Six Nations before and no more than might be coming his way.
He continued: “In some ways it’s a last chance to show what you can do, but that’s there in any Test match and there’ll be even more in the World Cup, especially towards the tail end of the group, so if I can come through I’ll be feeling good about what I could do in New Zealand.”
Dickinson also has the versatility to play either side of the scrum that could help win his place on the plane, but he’s happiest to be in his role this weekend in the No 1 shirt.
“I’ve never been a tight-head, to be honest. I’ve always played there due to injuries or necessity,” he said.
“It’s Catch 22 you could look at it and think I’ll play anywhere for Scotland, but it’s hard if you don’t play and practice there week-in week-out, when it’s a really specialised position, and now with an extra prop on the bench most weeks you can go a long time without playing tight-head.
“This week’s about another opportunity to start on the loosehead and I’m really looking forward to that.”
As for this weekend, performing his own specific role to the best of his ability will serve him best, he feels.
“International rugby is a pressure cooker the whole time,” he continued. “You’ve got to stay focused and, hard as it sounds, try to be relaxed.
“You’ve got to give it a crack, but when it’s all said and done selection is out of your hands and you won’t talk your way into the squad.
“It would be awesome to make it. It’s what you work and train so hard for, the very top of the game in international tournaments. It would mean everything to make it.”