With the national side failing to perform, the door is open tonight for ambitious players to show Frank Hadden and the national selectors that they are ready to be eased into the Scotland team in place of the stuttering stars in the side at the moment.

While every position is under scrutiny, there is particular attention on Phil Godman at fly half and Graeme Morrison at outside centre, who both know they have the chance make their case for selection impossible to overlook. The trick, as Godman admits, is to ignore the other considerations and think only about tonight’s match at Murrayfield against Munster. Fortunately, that should not be too difficult because Edinburgh, his club, are lying third in the Magners League and cannot afford to slip up at home if they are to maintain the pressure on the leaders.

“It’s been a while since I last played for Edinburgh but we were on a good roll before the break,” Godman said. “Being back here in training has been really good, everyone is looking forward to the game. I was disappointed not to be involved with Scotland but I am pleased with my form and I have an opportunity here to do well for Edinburgh and get a win for my club.

“If you think about the national stuff you’d be in trouble but luckily Edinburgh is so exciting at the moment that there is no risk of that. I’d be lying if I said it was not in the back of my mind but that is like any time you are playing well, you are always going to be putting pressure on the other guy. If I have a good game it will not do me any harm.”

All of which certainly suggests a maturing attitude to the game, helped by a workrate that has impressed Andy Robinson, his club coach, and a willingness to learn. “I had to take a look at myself after I was left out of the World Cup squad but Andy [Robinson] has been a massive help to me, telling me the player I had the potential to be but also the things that I needed to work on if I was going to get there. I think I am starting to see the rewards, I am improving faster than ever and that is exciting.”

The game matters to Edinburgh, who would move up to second in the league with a win and could stay there depending on the result when the two teams ahead of them play each other tomorrow. A defeat would allow Munster, who have a game in hand, to overtake them.

An Edinburgh win at Murrayfield would do their colleagues from Glasgow a favour, allowing them to catch Munster in the league after a series of disappointing results in the early part of the year. It is also a big game for Morrison, who came on for Nick De Luca at outside centre for Scotland against Wales last week and knows that a big performance could see the roles reversed – him starting and his Edinburgh rival on the sidelines.

“Anything is possible, I’m sure whoever they choose will deserve his place,” he said. “The key is to play well for Glasgow and not think about Scotland until after the weekend. Being brought into the 22 last week must mean something. A good performance and anything could happen.”

Morrison is joined by Fergus Thomson from last week’s international squad, but the four from the club in the Scotland starting XV last week have all been rested for tonight’s visit to Llanelli Scarlets. There is a first start for Calum Forrester, the 21-year-old back row, but Donnie Macfadyen, the injury-plagued flanker, is still out of action though he could come into consideration in two weeks.

Glasgow: B Stortoni; L Fa’atau, G Morrison, D Gibson, H O’Hare; C Gregor, S Pinder; J Va’a, F Thomson, M Low, A Newman, A Kellock (capt), S Swindall, C Forrester, J Beattie. Replacements: D Hall, E Kalman, D Turner, J Eddie, R Jackson, S Barrow, M Evans.