If you fancy taking a sneak peek behind the curtains of Scottish grassroots rugby, there is no shortage of talented performers who have little interest in hogging the big stage.

Consider Phil Smith, for instance, the feisty, flinty motivator at Heriot's, whose players have amassed a ten-point lead in the BT Scottish Premiership and already booked their place in the inaugural play-offs later this season. Smith has done sterling work at Goldenacre - a place more renowned for class than consistency until the current campaign - and is also in charge of the Scotland Club International XV, who will lock horns with their Irish counterparts at Old Anniesland on Friday night.

But this is a fellow who remains more comfortable dispensing pearls of wisdom to his young squad in the mud and glaur than expounding any grand theories about his rugby "philosophy". Time after time, in recent seasons, Smith's approach has been as down-to-earth as his surname, yet he has transformed Heriot's with a tenacity and thoroughness which helps explain why they have soared away from their rivals at Melrose and Ayr.

In other circumstances, the coach could surely be forgiven a rueful reaction to the fact his side could eventually top the league by 12 to 15 points and still not end up with the title in their possession. But Smith isn't interested in excuses. "We all knew what the format was before the competition started, so we have to get on with it and that will be one of my priorities in the weeks ahead: to keep pressing home the message that the Premiership won't be won until the play-offs are finished," said Smith. "The last thing I want is for the guys to lose their focus and tell themselves: 'But we've already won the league.' No, we haven't. And while it might end up looking a bit strange if the club which comes in third or fourth prevails in the play-offs, we will have home advantage, we can hopefully attract a big crowd for that fixture and it should help to raise the profile of the sport.

"That is one of the most positive aspects of this season for me. We have had lots of local derbies - against Boroughmuir, Edinburgh Accies and Currie - and we have taken 29 points out of 30 [including five try-scoring bonuses] in these matches and that has helped boost attendances and also boosted the competitive element among the players. Even in the few games that we have lost, we have had opportunities to come out on the right side and we are learning how to get past the winning post in tight situations. That is important, because we are still a young side and I like to think one which can only get better."

Heriot's have produced some mesmerising stars throughout their history, including Andy Irvine, Ken Scotland and the famous Milne trio, Iain, Kenny and David, but their present collective owes more to the approach of the Musketeers - "All for one and one for all" - than any pursuit of individual glory. They triumphed in the Scottish Cup at Murrayfield last spring and are on course to defend their crown, but Smith prefers to think days rather than months ahead. As he knows, presumption has a way of biting you in the posterior.

"It has been a thrilling fight so far and it looks as if we could wind up with Melrose, Ayr and Gala in the play-offs, so the intensity isn't going to ease," said Smith. "One of the things I've noticed is how many youngsters are thriving at the clubs and they really want to help their mates, so there is a positive environment again. Our oldest player, Graham Wilson, is only 28, so it's healthy that we have lots of ambitious lads and I am confident we will see that same mentality when the club international takes place in Glasgow.

"So far, we have only had three sessions, but I've trimmed the squad to 23, and we will be putting in a lot of work this week to bring us up to speed. The Irish are strong in every area just now, so we're expecting this to be a hard match, but there are pretty much no easy ones these days. There's a great spirit among the boys to do their country proud."

Smith won't have it any other way. He favours the mute button over blowing his own trumpet, but these redoubtable characters are the heart and soul of the sport they love.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Not many clubs walk off the pitch after 80 minutes against Melrose with the latter still on "nul points". But that was what happened when Currie dominated proceedings at Malleny Park to record a 24-0 victory on Saturday.

TALKING POINT

It will be interesting to see how many fans turn up in Glasgow on Friday for the club international, given that it clashes with the Wales v England tussle in the Six Nations Championship. And one wonders about the sense of staging the game in that city when it only has one club - Hawks - in the Premiership.