Bloomberg HK Scottish welcome Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers to Shek Kip Mei in the game of the week in round five of the Old Mutual International Men’s Premiership this Saturday.

Scottish will be looking to get back on the winners list on their home deck, while the third-placed Tigers are eyeing a spot in the toptwo in the 4.30pm fixture.

Following a top-of-the-table clash betweenSocieteGenerale Valley and Natixis HKFC at Happy Valley at 3pm, Kowloon and Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC meet at King’s Park, also at 4.30pm.

Both Tigers and Scottish have won two and lost two and this looms as a crucial early-season match in terms of the league championship race.

After his side were reduced to 14 men for 50 minutes in last week’s 22-7 loss to Valley, Scottish coach Craig Hammond is aware they will have to improve vastly on that effort.

“We weren’t up to it on the weekend, it didn’t really go our way against Valley,” he said.

“The boys have got to really shape up this week.We stuck in there and in the last 20 minutes we really got into them and played some good rugby, but we can’t wait that long.

“Tigers have got a very good set piece and they have been doing really well up front this year, so for us it’s making sure we can work hard up front and give enough ball to our backs to be able to build some phases and keep hold of the ball.

“You have got to score points to win these games and Tigers at the moment are scoring points.”

Hammond credited first-year coach Sam Hocking for Tigers solid start to the year. Alongside wins over Kowloon and HKCC, Tigers have suffered narrow losses to Valley (three points) and HKFC (five points).

“Credit to Sam, the coaching staff and the players they have got around them,” Hammond said.

“Sam’s growing into that role, he’s been building nicely over the last couple of years in a player-coach role. He’s got a lot of respect from the boys and they have got a bit of a roll on.”

The loser of the clash between Kowloon and HKCC will find themselves firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table, with both outfits only able to muster one win so far this season.

Despite his side struggling for victories across the opening month, Kowloon coach James Scaysbrook is determined to look at the bigger picture.

“This week is important not necessarily to desperately get the win, but more to find a bit of form,” he said.

“We are making a few too many basic errors and we need to get back to basics this week. We turned over way too much possession last week, so hopefully we can get back to a bit of form.”

One thing working in Kowloon’s favour is that they expect to enter the clash with a close to full-strength list and home advantage will also help against a HKCC side on the up.

“They have always got a strong forward pack and strong set piece and they look like they are really trying to move the ball quite a bit this year,” Scaysbrook said about a side that has scored more points than any of their opponents across the first four rounds. “They are trying to attack the game on all fronts.”

Valley and HKFC face off in potentially a defining match of the season so far, with the winner to finish the first round of matches sitting top.

With three wins and 93 points scored each, both sides have had remarkably even starts to 2017-18 and this encounter could well come down to individual brilliance.

Captain Tom Isaacs, fly half Nate de Thierry and second rower Jevon Groves will lead the charge for Football Club, while Valley will turn to the likes of scrum half RuanDuplooy and star centre pairing Sean Connor and Ally Maclay to get things moving when the going gets tough.

The Old Mutual International Championship Challenge Cup will be on the line when the Championship’s University Wizards search for a record third win in this season’s new trophy. After last week’s 41-33 home victory over ECO Gai Wu Rebels, the Wizards welcome challengers RB-SRK Tin Shui Wai in round five.