Edinburgh Reivers team manager Ian Rankin is predicting that Chris Paterson will be a marked man this season.

The young Reivers and Scotland full-back burst on to the scene last year in his first full professional season leaving players, managers and the media purring in admiration.

But Rankin is warning Paterson not to believe that this season will bring the same with opponents now aware of his abilities.

``You ask anybody and they will tell you that the second season is always more difficult than the first because he will be marked more closely,'' said Rankin.

``People now know about Chris and he will find that there will be less space and less time for him to move in.

``But it will be a good test for Chris as he continues his progress.''
Rankin and coach Frank Hadden take their team to Ulster on Friday evening for their final pre-season game before the start of the campaign.

And Rankin is hoping to avenge the European Cup defeat in 1998 when the Reivers lost a 21-13 lead and crashed out of the competition with a quarter-final place beckoning.

``One of the things we have set out to do is to make it uncomfortable for teams to come to Scotland,'' said Rankin.

``We want to create an intimidating atmosphere and that is mainly down to what happens on the field and the way we play.

``Ulster pipped us to a European Cup quarter-final place two years ago before going on to win the competition.

``But the atmosphere that day was excellent and we need that level of support again in the coming season.

``It was possibly the biggest crowd we have had but to gain the supporters we need to get ourselves off to a great start by winning games.

``It will be a tricky game for us but a good work-out ahead of the new season next week.

``The Irish provinces have been consistently strong in recent seasons with Ulster winning the European Cup two years ago and Munster reaching the final last season.

``They have a great pride in their game and the crowd atmosphere is fantastic when you play there.

``There is a great expectation among Irish fans and they enjoy their rugby immensely.

``It is a very big support they have but we hope that will rub off on us and provide a spur to our game. I always enjoy going there for games because of the atmosphere in the grounds.''