Scotland will see their Rugby World Cup hopes dashed or lifted on Saturday, October 25.

That is when the Scots will run out against France for the crucial pool B tie at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney that should settle top spot in the group.

The implications for Scotland's quarter-final hopes are huge, even though, for the first time since 1991, they will at least avoid their World Cup nemesis New Zealand.

The losers of that pool B decider will almost certainly have to play world champions and hosts Australia in the last eight.

Only once before have Scotland reached the last four - in 1991 when the draw favoured their progress.

Winning pool B would offer an easier chance to repeat that feat by setting up a tie against Ireland, the likely runners-up in the Wallabies' group.

Fiji, Japan and USA should provide fodder for these two Six Nations countries.

Neither of the bigger guns will be taking their challenge lightly, but Scotland and France should finish as top two qualifiers from pool B.

Recent history is against Ian McGeechan's side however, with the French running out 38-3 winners, a record-equalling margin of victory, in this year's Six Nations match in Paris.

But with Geech taking his final bow before moving upstairs for Matt Williams to take over in November, there is a desire among the squad to offer one final hurrah.

Squad: Ross Beattie, Graeme Beveridge, Mike Blair, Gordon Bulloch, Andy Craig, Simon Danielli, Bruce Douglas, Stuart Grimes, Dougie Hall, Andrew Henderson, Nathan Hines, Ben Hinshelwood, Gavin Kerr, Martin Leslie, Kenny Logan, Gordon McIlwham, James McLaren, Glenn Metcalfe, Andrew Mower, Scott Murray, Chris Paterson, Jon Petrie, Bryan Redpath, Gordon Ross, Rob Russell, Tom Smith, Simon Taylor, Gregor Townsend, Nikki Walker, Jason White.