Blair insists Canada clash is more important than awards bash

MIKE BLAIR has plenty to look forward to this weekend.

The 27-year-old Edinburgh scrum half will captain Scotland in their concluding Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test against Canada in Aberdeen on Saturday. And then on Sunday he and his family will jet to London where he is among five nominees for the highly prestigious IRB player of the year award. With his wife, Viv, mum and dad, Daphne and Rob, and agent Ian Smith all making the journey south, Blair might be forgiven for allowing his focus to waver slightly from Saturday's showdown at Pittodrie.

But ask this man of the moment about immediate priorities and the answer is, unequivocally, captaining Scotland against Canada.

"This is our chance to show that we can dominate and have a ruthless edge," says Blair.

Isn't there just a bit of him that will be looking ahead 24 hours, though, and a nomination panel that contains the equally great and good, namely All Black Dan Carter, Italian captain Sergio Parisse and Welsh Grand Slammers Shane Williams and Ryan Jones?

"I'm not holding out for anything more than a solid fifth place," he added. "But it'll be a good night especially with my family and friends there."

If that was the Edinburgh man showing typical modesty it's best to remember just how much of a dark horse he can be, with a match against Canada providing an appropriate reminder. Back in 2002 he made his debut against them in Vancouver and recalls: "I got my first cap before I started a game for Edinburgh. It was a strange time but a good catapult into the professional stuff."

If that selection made Blair the subject of quiz questions – who was capped by Scotland in the professional era before playing a full professional game? – then 51 more have totally vindicated the confidence of selectors not to mention his name now going before IRB award adjudicators.

Blair is hoping Saturday's game will allow him the chance to head for London on a high.

"Canada have a flanker, Adam Kleeburger, who is very dynamic and a ball stealer and he'll have to be contained more than anyone," continued Blair.

"But Saturday is, hopefully, a lot more about Scotland this week after facing New Zealand and South Africa, how physical we are, how clinical we are."