Edinburgh Gunners manager Ian Rankin believes that the new regular home of Myreside can lift the team and the supporters ahead of the new Celtic League competition.

The Gunners will use the capital venue as their home ground as part of the new packaging developed by the Scottish Rugby Union starting with the Celtic League opener against Munster on Friday evening.

Now Rankin is hoping that the Edinburgh crowds can help turn Myreside into a fortress after the defeat of Saracens at Goldenacre last weekend.

``Seeing how the Edinburgh public got behind us on Saturday was very encouraging,'' said Rankin. ``Give any sportsman a stage and they will respond to an audience which gets behind them.

``Witness anyone who is playing in front of one man and a dog and then, at Murrayfield in front of 70,000, they grow six inches. It looks like a big crowd for the opening game. It is a free night and there is a new audience now.

``There are a lot of people who have their own ideas about professional rugby. But we have tried very hard and the response is coming from a new audience and that is a far bigger audience.

``That is who we are trying to attract with the new package encouraging the whole family to come along. We want to make sure that, when a team comes to Scotland, they know they are playing away from home. We had a fantastic home record last year in front of an average of 2000 people but we want to double that this year.

``To have somewhere to call home is brilliant. I don't think there is another club in the country who would move to three, four or five grounds. But, if we can keep all we can at Myreside, it will be so helpful to everyone. Everybody knows where they can park, get a meal and a drink and meet friends. That turns into a habit.

``The players also like Myreside where the facilities and the pitch are very good and they are comfortable with the ground.''

But Rankin admits that the displays in pre-season must now be forgotten when Munster arrive in town.

``Munster is certainly not an easy way to begin for us but we have had a good preparation this year,'' said Rankin. ``The summer has been very good and the guys have been able to build themselves up in the gym and on the field.

``They are a lot stronger and faster and the three games we have had in the pre-season have gone pretty well. But you don't win any league points in your warm-up games but we are pleased that the opener is a home game.

``If you ask all the players and the coaches about the Celtic League, they will tell you that they are all very excited about it. It is a new challenge and a new style of play for everyone. The players like a fresh challenge every week.

``If you look at some of the Scotland-Ireland clashes over the last few years, the Irish approach their rugby in much the same way as we are doing. I'm sure there will be some cracking games over the next few weeks.''