THE flower of Scotland's rugby and football fans will be descending on Wales in the next few days - and Gwent businesses are set to cash in on the tartan invasion.

Thousands of Scots will come to Wales for the two countries' battles in football and rugby.

On Saturday, Wales rugby coach Steve Hansen's heroes will be pitted against the Scottish team looking for a first scalp in the Six Nations tournament.

Then next Wednesday, the Welsh football team will be trying to put the disappointment of not qualifying for Euro 2004 in Portugal behind them and get a victory in a friendly against Scotland.

While bookies up and down the country are taking bets on who will emerge victorious in both games, the real winners are set to be the pub landlords and guest- house owners across South Wales.

Like their national rugby team, who will be staying in the Celtic Manor over the next few days, many Scots appear to be choosing Newport for their accommodation.

Ross Miller, owner of Ashburton Guest House on Caerleon Road, Newport, said: "We are always full for these games. We get booked up several months in ad-vance every time Wales play rugby in Cardiff. "We are having a lot of calls for accommodation this week, but they have left it too late.

"We're not booked up fully for the football yet, as the mid-week game makes it difficult for many of the travelling support to stay if they have work the next day."

Brian Hall, manager of the Walkabout in Newport, has ordered extra beer in anticipation of a big weekend.

He added: "I know a couple of the guys in the Scottish team and I've invited them to the pub after the game on Saturday. Some of them came back after the last time they played Wales at the Millennium Stadium." Walkabout bar supervisor Charlie Mcleod will be cheering on the Scots, as he was born in Ayrshire but moved to Newport at the age of four. "I will be definitely supporting Scotland on Saturday," he said.