Kyle Coetzer believes Scotland’s tour to the Gold Coast provided perfect preparation for this week’s tests against Papua New Guinea.

The Scots face the Pacific Islanders in a four-day Intercontinental Cup encounter in Port Moresby starting today (Sun) before facing the same opponents in two crucial World Cricket League fixtures on Friday and next Sunday.

And spirits could hardly be higher following two excellent victories over the Auckland Aces in Queensland last week.

All-rounder Richie Berrington was the star of the show with a century in the first match and four wickets in the next but skipper Coetzer is convinced the entire squad have taken benefit from the trip.

He said: “We’ve settled in Port Moresby during the last day or two and everyone is ready for the competitive action to start.

“Beating a strong Auckland side has really boosted the confidence and we’re looking forward to getting into the series against Papua New Guinea.

“Although conditions here are new to us all, we have played Papua New Guinea before and we know they are going to be tough opponents.”

While Scotland’s hopes of winning the I-Cup for only the second time are already over, having been undermined by indifferent form and even more indifferent weather, Coetzer knows a good showing in the four-day match will provide a psychological boost ahead of the vital one-day internationals.

The Scots are much better placed in that competition, lying third in the eight-team table and knowing that two wins would not only see them leapfrog PNG, but also take them to the top, albeit having played two games more than current leaders the Netherlands.

Since the top four will progress to next year’s qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Cup along with the four lowest ranked Full Members, the importance of the WCL fixtures cannot be underestimated.

Coetzer added: “We know what’s at stake and are determined to get to the qualifier because that would give us a crack at some of the Test-playing countries and then hopefully onto the World Cup itself.

“That is the level we want to be playing at so qualifying for the big tournaments is vital for us as players and for Scottish cricket as a whole.”

Forfarshire bowler Scott Cameron is likely to join the squad on Monday following the withdrawal through injury of Somerset all-rounder Josh Davey while Sussex fast bowler will arrive in Port Moresby later today and is likely to feature in the WCL fixtures.