Ex-Queen Anne High School pupil Fraser McKenzie (pictured) will line up with his Edinburgh team-mates in the European Challenge Cup showpiece against fellow Dunfermline-born player Stevie McColl, who plies his trade with Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership.

The match at Twickenham Stoop will be a historic occasion for Edinburgh – the first Scottish club to contest a European final – but squaring up to each other for the first time in their careers will make it even more memorable for the West Fife duo.

After progressing through the youth ranks at McKane Park, McKenzie (27) and McColl (26) both moved to Murrayfield as academy players before the latter joined Doncaster Knights in 2007, with a spell at Yorkshire Carnegie preceding his move to Kingsholm last year.

McKenzie, meanwhile, returned to Murrayfield after a three-year spell playing for Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons and the lock forward told Press Sport that coming up against his former team-mate in one of the biggest matches of his career was “very exciting”.

“Stevie is the same age as me and we came all the way through at Dunfermline together and we were both at Edinburgh before he moved to Doncaster,” he said.

“We have been a big part of each other’s rugby life and when I moved down south to play in the Premiership, I kept in touch with him so it will be nice to see him again. I’ll phone him before the game but then we’ll put that to one side because we’re both very competitive.

“Next season will be a decade of playing professional rugby for me and this will be one of the biggest stages that I have played on. We’re all excited but we have to focus and not get too carried away by the occasion.

“But for a town of Dunfermline’s size I don’t think this will happen too often and it shows those playing at all age groups at Dunfermline what they can achieve.” Full back Stevie commented, “I played with big Fraser since we were six right up to the seniors at 18-19 when we were both at Edinburgh and then I moved to England. I really hope to be involved because it is one of the biggest games of my career and it will be good to see a few mates in the Edinburgh team that I’ve not seen in a while.

“For it to be against them and Fraser makes it that bit more special and although afterwards we’ll have a pint, during the game we’ll be going in hard to win.

“I’ve had a bit of a frustrating year as although I’ve been given opportunities, I’d play a couple of games and then miss one with a little niggle. The depth of players sitting behind me is something that I’ve had to get used to but hopefully I can be involved, play more games next year and try to make the Scotland squad, which is the next step for me.” He continued, “I keep in touch with the club to see how they’re getting on and I know they’ve been up and down recently with a lot of the young players now senior players. But there are a few boys coming through who are playing in Scotland age groups so there are good signs for the future.

“When I think of when I used to play with Fraser at Dunfermline, it’s a long time ago and it’s funny looking back when I see what we have achieved. It’s great to see what another of your mates from your home town has done and I hope that the players coming through at Dunfermline can look up to Fraser and I starting at a small club and going on to do what we have.” McKenzie, who returned to his old club recently to lend a hand at an Easter coaching camp, added, “I know the senior club have had a bit of turmoil recently with being relegated but the club has a very strong youth system and the players can use it as a platform to move on to bigger things.”