Three key battles

DARCY GRAHAM v EMILIANO BOFFELLI

This meeting of two sublimely gifted Edinburgh team- mates is surely the most intriguing head- tohead contest on offer this afternoon. Graham scored one try and came within a toenail’s breadth of scoring another against the All Blacks, and if he is on such dangerous form again he could cause real problems for his opposite number.

However, Boffelli has been on excellent form in the Autumn Nations Series and will be a real threat whenever he gets the ball. He keeps opponents guessing with his versatility - when you see him running towards you, you often do not know if he will kick, pass or just keep going on his own - and Graham may well have to be at his defensive best to hold him at bay.

JONNY GRAY v MATIAS ALEMANNO

Back in the starting line- up after playing second fiddle to older brother Richie over the past fortnight, Exeter second- row Gray has every incentive to deliver one of his best recent performances for his country. Gloucester’s Alemanno is a tough, durable competitor who has played for the full 80 in his team’s last two matches. Expect the two to clash in the loose almost as often as they do in the lineout.

FINN RUSSELL v SANTIAGO CARRERAS

Both of these stand- offs excel in defence, but both need to be on the front foot if their talents are to be used to the full. Carreras, a team- mate of Alemanno’s at Gloucester, is still thought of in some quarters as primarily a fullback; but his eye for a gap is often better utilised further up the field. Russell returned to the team last week and played as if he had never been away.

It should be noted that the statistics are based on players who have played at least 600 minutes and includes Scottish Premiership appearances only.

Scottish Premiership Goals Saved Above Average table ( season total)

1 Kelle Roos ( Aberdeen) 4.65 2. Trevor Carson ( St Mirren) 0.69

3 Craig Gordon ( Hearts) 0.46 4 Joe Hart ( Celtic, inset) - 0.26 5 Mark Birighitti ( Dundee United) - 0.38

6 Ross Laidlaw ( Ross

County) - 1.08

7 Sam Walker ( Kilmarnock)

- 1.13

8 Shamal George ( Livingston)

- 1.22

9 Allan McGregor ( Rangers)

- 1.94

10 Liam Kelly ( Motherwell)

- 2.26

11 Zach Hemming ( Kilmarnock) - 2.49

12 Remi Matthews ( St Johnstone) - 2.54

13 Carljohan Eriksson ( Dundee United) - 3.85

14 David Marshall ( Hibernian)

- 4.30.