“How exciting: This is the situation we want to be in” – Mathie relishing ‘massive challenge’ at The Rec

With a place in the knockout stages – and potentially top spot in the pool – on the line at one of rugby’s most iconic venues, Mathie believes the capital side are primed for the occasion.

“How exciting. I think at the start if we’d said this is the situation we’re in, I think we’d have been really happy,” Mathie reflected.

“We got two bonus-point wins at home and now this massive challenge. But it’s an exciting challenge.”

The trip to Somerset represents a direct rematch of last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup Semi-Final at Hive Stadium, a tightly-contested 24-39 loss that remains fresh in the memory, but Mathie says the squad travels south with total confidence.

“I thought last time we played against them in the Challenge Cup semi-final we managed to get a good couple of tries. We definitely have the belief that we can do that. I think the transition game is important.

“They’re a strong kicking team and we need to match them on that. I think there’s definitely some opportunities that we can create from the kicking game and counter.”

The capital side head into the final pool stage fixture buoyed by a gritty 26-24 bonus-point win over Gloucester last weekend, a result that further highlighted the evolution of an attack that has found its rhythm at just the right time.

Addressing previous concerns regarding the team’s offensive output, Mathie explained that the recent upturn in form is the result of a deliberate shift in focus on the training paddock.

“It’s like anything I think. When one of the parts of our game isn’t going how we expect, we just devote a bit more time to it. I think over the last two to three weeks we’ve probably invested a bit more time into the attack.

“It’s definitely paid dividends. We’re starting to create a lot more opportunities. We’re starting to get a lot more touches into our backs which has been positive. It’s definitely yielded a bit of fruit.”

However, despite the increased creativity, the coach is demanding more clinical execution as they approach the business end of the tournament.

“I think our big thing is we want to be better at finishing. In the finish zone, we’re creating opportunities. But if we had done that better in the first half [against Gloucester], the second half, we wouldn’t have had to climb up that hill. So we definitely are in the last couple of games creating those moments for them.”

Selection for the clash at The Rec, which is live on Premier Sports, comes with a mixed outlook on the injury front.

Edinburgh will be without centre Matt Currie, who was forced off during the victory over Gloucester.

“Matt obviously visibly did his hamstring. He went for a scan today. We haven’t found out yet. He obviously won’t be playing this weekend,” Mathie confirmed.

Dylan Richardson remains sidelined with rib cartilage issues and props Boan Venter and D’arcy Rae require “a bit more time,” however, the return of back-row Ben Muncaster has provided a significant lift to the squad.

“Obviously it was great to have Ben Muncaster back in the squad on the weekend. He’s our guy that’s pretty much back at full fitness which is great to have him back on the field.”

With the stakes clear – a win secures a knockout spot – Edinburgh travel to Bath ready to embrace the drama of the final round.