'I played at Edinburgh... I class some of the boys as really good friends'

Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti is well aware of the significance of their derby clash against Edinburgh.

The winners of Saturday’s encounter will clinch Heineken Champions Cup rugby next season with the losers having to settle for Challenge Cup action.

With Warriors ahead of Edinburgh on points difference in seventh place in the United Rugby Championship, the BT Murrayfield clash will also determine the venue of their quarter-final opponents with the losing side set to travel to Leinster.

Bhatti told the Warriors’ media team: “We have not really spoken about it that much but it’s in the back of our minds that this is going to define what’s going to happen for us next season as well.

“It’s massive for us going forward because we want to be playing against the best teams in Europe next season and this game is a stepping stone to do that.”

The 1872 Cup is also up for grabs with Glasgow 13 points in front following the first leg but individual prizes are potentially at stake too.

“It’s a derby game and you are playing against your mates,” Bhatti said. “We are all mates. I played at Edinburgh for a season pre-Covid and I have got a lot of good mates that I still keep in contact with. I class some of the boys as really good friends of mine.

“There is a fun side of it, playing against your mates, but obviously you want to get one up on the competition as well – because there is the bigger picture when it comes to the national team and selection for that. You want to get an upper hand on the competition.”