The great and the good of Wanderers rugby will be lined around the Fort Matilda touchline tomorrow as captain David Watson leads his team out as the champions of the Scottish Hydro-Electric National League Second Division for the first time.

The locals complete their home league fixture card tomorrow with a tough match against old rivals Highland, but the afternoon will be a gala occasion as Wanderers will be presented with the league trophy at the end of the match by officials from the Scottish Rugby Union.

Watson's men have established an insurmountable lead in the championship race and are the first Scottish club this season to clinch their particular league title. As Wanderers' match against Caithness a fortnight ago fell victim to the weather, second placed Lasswade failed to beat Stewartry and therefore handed the title to the Greenock side.

For the locals it was the culmination of months of effort and planning. Their success this season is just reward for all the hard work that has gone in at the club by all concerned.

President Dougie Sloan said: "It has been a great campaign and the coaches, players and back room staff have been a tight-knit unit throughout the season.

"I have said often that this is the start of what we hope will be a sequence of promotions similar to what we enjoyed at the end of the 90s. I am particularly delighted for coaches Dave McVey and Bob Adams who have done an excellent job moulding the team, and also skipper David Watson who has been a terrific leader throughout the season.

"There is a game of rugby to be won tomorrow but we will enjoy the occasion and I would imagine a sizeable post-match party afterwards.

"We hope as many of our supporters, sponsors and friends will join us to celebrate our sucess." The euphoric feelings at Fort Matilda are well founded as the current Wanderers crop have produced some fine displays this season and are a young side with a big future.

Highland are in a comfortable mid-table position with little left to play for. Wanderers, on the other hand, will be desperate to put on a show in front of their faithful support and produce a performance worthy of the title champions ahead of being awarded the trophy.

Some needle has existed between the clubs over the last couple of seasons and the Inverness outfit will do their best to be party-poopers, but the wise money remains on the locals putting in another wining display.

Coach Bob Adams said, "Tomorrow's game is one that we want to win to put the icing on the cake. We will select a strong side and Highland will be paid every respect, especially as they have been difficult opponents over the last few years. We have trained well this week and there is still plenty of rugby to be played this season with two more away league games and a difficult cup match next week at Livingston." Wanderers were superb against Glasgow Accies in their last outing, and that display set the benchmark against which all future performances will be judged.

As always the forwards will have to impose their will on proceedings and, assuming Matt Gray and his pack produce their normal supply of ball, then the visitors could be in for a very long afternoon indeed. Andy McDougall, Ant Devlin, Kieren Smith and skipper Watson have been particularly prominent in the back line over the last few weeks and scoring opportunities have been created almost at will.

The hardest job of the afternoon may well fall to the selectors who are tasked with naming the 18-man squad from a strong pool of highly motivated players who have all played their part this season.

All roads lead to Fort Matilda then as Wanderers celebrate their first championship win since 2002. A sell-out pre-match lunch and a heaving post-match party are all arranged and, with the silverware due to be presented about 4.30 pm, the likelihood is that skipper David Watson will lift the trophy on the back of another sound Wanderers victory.

Greenock Wanderers v Highland at Fort Matilda. Kick-off 3pm.

Squad: L Tyley, D Watson (captain), S Connolly, C Anderson, D Murray, B McGroarty, K Smith, G Fletcher, A Devlin, A McDougall, D Smith, A McMichael, R Lavelle, M Lavelle, J McArthur, M Coyle, A Shearer, M Gray, M Duncan, J Stewart, A Love, C Clark, A Abernethy, C Robb.

Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.