Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby are gearing up for the annual 1872 cup derby matches having both enjoyed positive first halves of their seasons for different reasons and as a result of two very different game plans.

The newly-bolstered Glasgow squad have been pragmatic in securing close victories and, in some cases valuable draws in contests that they would have probably lost last season whilst Edinburgh are scoring tries for fun and are well placed to qualify for the Heineken cup quarter finals, although their league form in the Pro12 will be a worry to their supporters having lost six of their domestic matches so far this season.

Form, to coin a phrase, goes out the window on derby days however, and both teams will go into the first match at Murrayfield on Boxing Day believing that they will be able to overcome their familiar opponents.

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen will have an interesting selection dilemma over the next few days when considering who should wear the 10 jersey at Murrayfield. Ruaridh Jackson, the Scotland stand off, started Saturday’s match in Montpellier but failed to ignite the backline whilst Glasgow scored 10 points including a try from Rory Lamont when Duncan Weir was deployed after 60 minutes.

In the previous match at Firhill, however it was Jackson who was introduced to get the Glasgow backs moving and a try soon came for Federico Aramburu, meaning Lineen will have a headache deciding who should start at stand off on Boxing Day to help Glasgow retain their 1872 trophy for another year.

Elsewhere, Lineen will have to select a centre combination capable of preventing Edinburgh’s lethal outside backs getting any ball but also able to punch holes or find gaps in the opposition.

Graeme Morrison came in for criticism after the first leg of the Montpellier tie but it is expected that the big centre will start at inside centre with either Pete Murchie or the skilful Troy Nathan outside of him. David Lemi should be recalled after two week’s rest along with Rory Lamont and the exciting Stuart Hogg, should complete Lineen’s backline.

Whilst the Glasgow forward pack virtually picks itself when all fit with the exception of number 8, Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley will have to decide whether to take on Glasgow up front with the likes of Fijian backrower Netani Talei and the aggressive Dave Denton, or opt for the more dynamic Stuart McInally, Roddy Grant or Ross Rennie to deny Glasgow any go-forward from set pieces.

Having watched both teams extensively this season it would be easy to suggest that Edinburgh’s backs will run all over Glasgow at Murrayfield whilst the Warrior’s pack will secure victory in a New Year’s scrap at Firhill, but there is more than meets the eye in these back to back festive fixtures.

Bradley will have noted that Glasgow tend to start games slowly and seem to have to be behind on the scoreboard before searching for the try line whilst Lineen knows full well about Edinburgh’s willingness to get the ball wide as soon as possible from anywhere on the pitch.

Both coaches will also be keen to stress that Andy Robinson and his Scotland coaching staff will be watching closely and the message to get the better of your opposite number will be hammered into players in both dressing rooms over the series.

Whilst Glasgow enjoyed a comprehensive victory at Murrayfield in January 2010 to seal the 1872 cup and series, Edinburgh have never won at Firhill and New Year’s Day will be their last chance to do so given that the Warriors are scheduled to move west to Scotstoun in July 2012.

The SRU are keen to market the fixtures intensely this week with various media campaigns and promotional activities designed to capture the attention of the casual rugby fan who may be at a loose-end on either match day, although they have not been helped by the lack of public transport available to fans on either match day meaning the likelihood of any attendance records being broken is unrealistic unless fans decide to forsake any alcoholic refreshments and drive to the venues.

Edinburgh fans will be confident of a convincing win over their oldest rivals on Boxing Day given that they have scored 22 tries so far in all competitions including the memorable 48-47 victory against Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup, and with Greig Laidlaw likely to be orchestrating the attack from stand off, they will be looking to ship the ball wide as quickly as possible to allow the likes of Lee Jones and Tim Visser time and space with which to attack.

Glasgow, by comparison, have struggled to cross the line this season and although the news that Sean Lamont will be re-joining the Warriors ranks next year will go some way to easing those issues, they will immediately look to the likes of the other Lamont brother Rory, Samoan flyer David Lemi, Federico Aramburu, Tommy Seymour and Troy Nathan to create try scoring opportunities in the vast expanses of Murrayfield.

It’s difficult to make predictions in this, the oldest of inter-city rugby fixtures given how close these games tend to be, but if Edinburgh play to their attacking strengths and Glasgow begin as they have done recently, the men from Murrayfield could find themselves travelling along the M8 on New Year’s Day with an aggregate cushion that may just prove too much for the likes of Duncan Weir and Ruaridh Jackson to claw back.

You can follow Finlay Morrison on Twitter @FinMorrison