28/11/09 02:40 GMT
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Picture Harris - eyeing trophy glory for Wales.

HARRIS EYES EARLY TROPHY

By Ian Laybourn, Press Association Sport

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Iestyn Harris will be aiming to collect silverware just four matches into his reign as head coach when Wales meet Scotland in the rugbyleague.com European Cup final at Bridgend's Brewery Field on Sunday.

Wales lost 48-12 to England in Harris' first match in charge before opening their European Cup campaign with an 88-8 rout of Serbia and overwhelming World Cup heroes Ireland 42-12 a week ago.

The Scots booked their place in Sunday's final thanks to pool victories over Italy and Lebanon but will concede home advantage to their Celtic rivals.

"We did well against Ireland and that was a tremendous boost to everyone's confidence," said Harris.

"Scotland also had a very good win last weekend and they're going to be confident but we're at home and playing at the Brewery Field will certainly help us.

"Our rugby league is very expansive and we'll look to play a similar game this weekend."

Scotland have happy memories of the Brewery Field, where they won 21-14 in a World Cup qualifier three years ago, although only two Wales players - Jordan James and Ian Watson - survive from that defeat.

There were just five Welsh-born players in the squad of 2006 but that figure is now double, with another four also living in the area, thanks to the impact of Super League new boys Crusaders.

"It's been magnificent to see so many Welsh-born youngsters who are professional rugby league players and really want to play for Wales," said Harris.

"They're all very enthusiastic and are feeling pretty confident, as they should do from their performance last week.

"Scotland will be a different challenge. They're very physical and they've got a lot of older guys in their camp who have experienced heads on their shoulders.

"However, we've got a young group who are excited about the prospects of playing in a major final and want to take that opportunity with both hands."

Harris is hoping that back-rower Ben Flower, one of 12 players from the Crusaders in his 20-man squad, will be available after missing the win over Ireland through injury.

"He's still running a bit gingerly but we're expecting him to be passed fit," he said.

"We've a couple of guys that we need to check up on before game day but we're expecting them to pull through so we should have a full compliment of players."

Scotland have made marked progress under coach Steve McCormack and, after beating Fiji to break their first World Cup duck, they fancy their chances of collecting their first ever silverware.

"We're very excited," said McCormack. "You don't get the chance to play in a final very often and it should be a tremendous game.

"We've got this far which is a massive achievement and we want to go one further and win the competition but we know it's going to be very difficult.

"Wales are a very good side - especially having seen them beat Ireland like they did last week - and they will have a very vocal crowd behind them at Brewery Field.

"This is Scotland Rugby League's first senior final and we know that we'll have to play better than we did in the last two games to triumph.

"We've always relied on working hard as a team and have a fantastic work ethic and it is humbling watching how the squad have gelled together.

"One of our long-term aims is to help the domestic game develop and it's been very satisfying to see players such as John Cox from Edinburgh Eagles come through and make a contribution in this competition.

Ireland will play Lebanon in a curtain-raiser to decide third place while Serbia and Italy meet in Maesteg to determine which team drops out of the competition next year to make way for France.

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