THE prospect of a return to National League rugby is something that has been "a long time in the waiting" for Dunfermline Rugby Club.

Head coach Gavin Emerson admits that leading them there after an eight-year absence would be "massive" as they chase the title and a possible national final at BT Murrayfield.

The men's first XV are due to host Aberdeen Wanderers on Saturday in their final Tennent's Men's Caledonia Region League, Division One, encounter, where a win will guarantee them top spot, the championship and promotion to National League Division Four next season.

The game has previously been postponed three times – in December, January and last month – and, in the meantime, they have also progressed to the semi-finals of the National Shield, which will take place a week on Saturday (April 1) at Castle Douglas based side Stewartry.

Before the previously scheduled match with Aberdeen, Emerson, who took over last summer, said: "It's a long time in the waiting.

"It's massive and the club's been working on it for years. I was speaking to a former coach at Dunfermline, and was saying you've been part of this process; it's not just what we've came in and done this season, it's building.

"A lot of the boys here played 18s, 16s together. It's that process we spoke about about the youth coming through, and this is the right time for the club to get there.

"It'll be great for the whole club to get this, and hopefully get to Murrayfield. That would be a great finish to the season."

Emerson admitted that he and his coaching team are already looking towards next season, noting: "Some guys might call it a day, so we need to be mindful of that, and make sure we're bringing the youngsters through. I think we'll be good.

"We've got plenty here and even further down the ages in the club; there's loads of stuff coming through. Looking at the 15s, the 15s are doing great stuff; they've got a great set of coaches, and then it's just that pedigree of what's coming through.

"It's all people just giving back to the club. It's all mostly club players – apart from myself and another coach, we've come from elsewhere – but we feel part of it now as well.

"We're committed to the cause. We just need to make sure that the boys take what they can onto the pitch, be in control and not just look to the coaches for setting them up on the day."