If Edinburgh are to win tonight, it's a fair bet Fijian number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata will be at the heart of it.

Mata has been sensational throughout the European campaign, and his offload for James Johnstone's try against Toulon last weekend was swiftly elevated into the 'worldie' category.

But Mata brings far more to the party than the odd flash of handling genius. He has made more carries (96) than any other player, and more metres (330) than any other forward, in the pool stage so far. He's also beaten 14 defenders and made nine offloads.

"Vili is world class," says Richard Cockerill. "We hope he has his best game ever."

Here, here.

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Remember Vern Cotter's last sighting at Murrayfield? The hard-bitten New Zealander was moved to tears by the warmth of his reception on the day he bowed out as Scotland head coach in March 2017, ending his reign with a 29-0 Six Nations victory over Italy.

He gave the impression it wasn't his decision to leave the Scotland job when he did, the Scottish Rugby hierarchy preferring to install Gregor Townsend in the post instead rather than see their prize domestic coaching asset potentially depart for pastures new after a successful stint at Glasgow.

The SRU can hardly said to have got that decision wrong, given the continued progress in the last two years under Townsend.

Cotter has already brought his Montpellier team to Scotland since, inflicting a 29-22 defeat on Glasgow at Scotstoun in last season's Champions Cup pool stage.

Could his side inflict a mortal blow to Edinburgh's hopes tonight? With Montpellier struggling in ninth place in the French Top 14, Europe offers a potential route to salvage something from their season.

All is not lost for Edinburgh if they are beaten tonight, although they would then be reliant on results in other pools over the weekend, in the battle for one of the three best runners-up spots.

A losing bonus point could be significant in that scenario, taking them above Glasgow, who have a savagely difficult assignment at English champions Saracens on Saturday if they are to add to their own tally of 19 points.

The only thing we can definitely say is that a Montpellier win would see them top Pool Five if the teams finish with the same points tally. In that scenario, the first criteria is the total number of match points from their two fixtures.

Montpellier, having already earned four points from their 21-15 victory in the return meeting, to Edinburgh's one, would therefore progress.

The only way Edinburgh could top the pool in defeat is if they score four tries AND finish within seven points of Montpellier, to earn two bonus points (taking them to 21 points), and Montpellier win without scoring four tries (leaving them on 20 points).

But clearly, unless you're of a French persuasion, if would far easier all round if Edinburgh just went out and won the game...

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Despite labelling last weekend's victory in Toulon as Edinburgh's "biggest ever win" - and who could argue with that assessment? - Richard Cockerill was quick to remind his troops that it's not mission accomplished yet.

Given the quality of opposition when the draw was made, the former England hooker would no doubt have bitten your arm off if you'd have presented this scenario before a ball was kicked or a tackle made.

But after a run of six successive wins, their best sequence under Cockerill, and four of them in Europe, 'carpe diem' will be the message for his players tonight.

"These are the games you have to win," he tells BBC Scotland before kick-off. "We've earned the right to play at home, so why would you want to let that opportunity slip?"

"We are looking forward to the battle. We are playing for big stakes but it is fun, it's sport. I am going to love every minute of it."

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Evening all. And what a historic evening it could be for Scottish rugby.

A home win tonight would see Edinburgh reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition for the third time, following their runs to the last eight in 2004 and semi-finals in 2012.

Victory would also have the knock-on effect of sending inter-city rivals Glasgow through to the last eight as one of the best runners-up at least, before their own pool decider at Saracens tomorrow.

Two Scottish teams in the quarter-finals in the same year would most certainly be a first - Glasgow have only progressed to the last eight once before, in 2017.

So exciting times north of the border...

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