WALES' Gwent-born centre Mark Taylor (pictured) believes tomorrow's Wales-Scotland clash at Murrayfield will be as intense as any in this season's Six Nations.

He says that though people are downplaying the encounter as a wooden spoon decider and hyping up clashes such as England v Ireland, Saturday's game will match any for fervour.

And Swansea's former Pontypool ace is hoping to follow up his fine performance against England with another top class display to cement his place back in the red jersey ahead of the World Cup.

"This is probably going to be as intense a game as any in the championship," said the 34-times capped performer.

"You read a lot about people playing this game down and saying there are bigger games, such as England v Ireland or whatever, but for us there's no bigger game than this.

"So we won't be looking at this as a wooden spoon decider. We can't afford to do that and inhibit ourselves.

"The Wales v Scotland games always are very intense, but this will be even more so with Scotland aware that they have underperformed in the championship so far.

"It won't be for the faint-hearted."

Two seasons in the international wilderness with a serious knee injury sent Taylor, 30 last Thursday, down the Wales pecking order, particularly after Jamie Robinson and newcomer Sonny Parker played so well in the Autumn internationals.

But now he is back in possession of the outside centre berth alongside Tom Shanklin and he believes the partnership can prosper.

"Tom has had a tremendous campaign so far. He played really well against Italy and I thought he stepped up again against England," added Taylor.

"He's a very good player and I think he has a big future in the game.

"The centre position is probably the most competitive in Welsh rugby at the minute.

"In the Autumn internationals Sonny (Parker) and Jamie (Robinson) played extremely well and you just need to be on your toes all the time.

"A slight lapse and one of those guys will come and take the jersey off your back, but possession is the big thing and I'm just grateful to have the jersey on my back this weekend and I'll be trying my best to keep it.

"There's no better feeling than pulling on the Welsh jersey, especially after the last couple of seasons with injuries.

Taylor has put his England match decision to cut inside when a try-scoring pass to Rhys Williams was on to one side now.

"It was a split-second decision. I spoke to the people I felt were important to me about it, but now it's in the past," he said.

"You learn from the past, but you don't live in it do you?"

And as for Wales feeling pressure tomorrow with a possible whitewash and wooden spoon looming, he said: "The only pressure we feel is the pressure we put ourselves under.

"We're here to win games and it's very difficult when you don't do that."