Fancy a dark horse for Scotland's World Cup squad later this year?

Hamish Watson's involvement in the Six Nations just ended amounted to a 30-minute cameo against Italy - make that a 29-minute cameo, actually, as he picked up a yellow card just before the end - but Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons believes the flanker is ready for bigger and better things.

In Solomons' opinion, Watson is the sort of player who thrives on a challenge, and there will be a pretty tasty one on the menu at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow evening when Edinburgh go head-to-head with London Irish with a place in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals at stake.

Appetising? It gets better. When Watson pulls on the number seven shirt for Edinburgh, Blair Cowan will be donning the same item for London Irish. Cowan pretty much nailed down the Scotland openside slot during the Six Nations, but if Watson can get the better of him then he will have a fight on his hands to stay there when the World Cup gets underway in September.

"It will be a really good match-up," smiled Watson. "It is a personal battle because he is Scotland's number one at the moment and it is a good chance for me to see how I go against him."

With John Barclay and Hugh Blake also in the frame, it is going to be one of the most intriguing selection contests as the World Cup looms. However, Solomons is convinced that his man has something special.

Solomons said: "Hamish is physically gifted. His genetics are good. He is a dynamic, explosive athlete. His workrate is phenomenal; he is a machine. He certainly doesn't stand back for anybody. He is a great guy, very likeable and an excellent team man. He has a massive future ahead of him.

"Obviously, Blair is a good player and did very well in the Six Nations, but I think Hamish will relish the opportunity to play against him.

"Hamish is a terrific player. He is quick but the important thing is that he is explosive. He is not that small - 102 kg I think - but guys look at him and think he is less than what he is. How many times you see him go into contact and then make extra yards?"

Solomons hinted yesterday that he is likely to remain at Edinburgh beyond the end of this season. The South African was given a two-year contract when he arrived at the club in the summer of 2013, and the progress the team has made since, especially in bringing new players through, has convinced him that he would like to stay around and finish the job of turning the basket case he inherited into a genuine force.

But where should efforts be concentrated over the next few weeks? The gleam of silverware may already be catching the eyes of Edinburgh supporters, but achieving a top-six finish in the Guinness PRO12 would earn them entry into the top-tier European Champions Cup competition. Asked which prize he would prefer, Solomons said "Both!" but the suggestion was that getting back among the elite is the greater prize.

Still, they will give it their best shot against London Irish. If Edinburgh win, they are guaranteed a home semi-final, and the prospect is already causing excitement in the dressing room. "That would be massive for them," Solomons said.

"What you are dealing with here is play-off rugby. They are all one-off games, so it is very important that you take your opportunities in games like this. You give away as little as possible. We have to be disciplined in this game and we have to be accurate."

Edinburgh carried out a smash-and-grab raid on their last visit to London Irish, edging a 20-19 win with a late Greig Laidlaw penalty in November 2011. Laidlaw has since moved on, and so have Edinburgh. Asked if he had looked back at footage of that game, Solomons suggested he would not even bother to do so had the game been played last season, so rapidly have things changed for both sides.

Yet while Edinburgh have both domestic and European goals as the current season moves towards its climax, London Irish can put their focus entirely on the Challenge Cup. Free of any relegation concerns in the Aviva Premiership, and with no chance of clinching a Champions Cup slot, their only hope of taking anything from the campaign lies in Europe.

The Reading-based side have a certain pedigree, having reached the Challenge Cup final in 2006, when they losy narrowly to Gloucester. Winger Topsy Ojo remains from that side, and Solomons is convinced that Edinburgh wil have to be at their best to edge the result this weekend.

"We know they will be very well motivated," he said. "I certainly don't underestimate them. They are very well up for this game. They want to get something out of the season and the European Challenge Cup is the only way to do that."

Edinburgh used to suffer a fit of the vapours when they crossed the border, and once lost seven games in a row on English soil. However, they are on a propitious run now, having won three of their last four games there. One more would be the making of their season.