Fiji v Scotland, Lautoko, June 16
Visser set for Test bow
ESPN Staff
June 11, 2012
Edinburgh winger Tim Visser poses at the Scotland squad announcement, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, May 16, 2012
Edinburgh winger Tim Visser is set to qualify for Scotland on residency grounds later this week © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: Max Evans | Tim Visser
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Edinburgh winger Tim Visser is set to make his long-awaited international bow in Scotland's clash with Fiji in Lautoka on Saturday.

The Dutch-born speedster will qualify for international honours on residency grounds on Tuesday and is seen by many as the answer to Scotland's chronic attacking woe that has seen them notch just three tries in their last nine matches.

The 25-year-old is in line for a swift elevation to the Test side as Scotland continue to count the cost of their bruising but historic victory over Australia last week. That narrow 9-6 triumph came at a cost with Sean Lamont forced out of the game with a rib injury while fellow winger Joe Ansbro has been sidelined with an eye injury suffered following a clash of heads with Alasdair Strokosch while the duo were celebrating the win. Strokosch is also nursing a head wound while captain Ross Ford is recovering from a bruised thigh.

As a result Scotland coach Andy Robinson is likely to draft in Visser onto his favoured left wing when he names his side later today although his selection was always likely considering his sparkling run of form on the domestic stage that saw him finish the RaboDirect PRO12's leading try-scorer for the third year running.

Looking ahead to his likely inclusion, Visser told the Scotland on Sunday: "I don't feel the pressure but the expectations are high just because of my track record at Edinburgh. I don't think I can personally change the try-scoring record of Scotland. It is very much a team thing. That is how it has worked at Edinburgh as well. I am just profiting from what other players do.

"There is expectation and pressure but that comes with the way I have been performing over the last three seasons. I usually perform well under pressure so I am trying to take it as a positive."

Castres' Max Evans is also in line for a return to Test duty having been denied a chance to feature in the opening game of the tour due to his Top 14 commitments. "I cannot do anything else but work my butt off and knock on the door for selection," Evans said following his arrival on tour. "The guys pulled off a great win against Australia on Tuesday and it's really tough for coaches to change a winning team so that makes it all the more competitive for players."

Meanwhile, lock Al Kellock has urged his side to build on their return to winning ways against Fiji and Samoa in their final tour outing on June 23. "It can't be a one-off," he said. "We have got to use the momentum from the win, we have said that already. It is Test rugby and each match is going to be different, especially given the contrast in conditions that we are experiencing.

"It is an absolute cliche but it is true: winning is a habit and we kind of got out of it in the last few months. Before that we were on a reasonable run and we have got to make sure that we get another win and take even more confidence into the Samoa match."

The match against Fiji at Churchill Park will be shown live on ESPN with kick-off scheduled for 3.00am (BST).

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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