WHEN Lisa Martin leads her team out for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifier against Spain at Scotstoun Stadium this evening, she will be under no illusions about the magnitude of the match.

The national team’s double-header against Spain – the second leg is away next weekend – is the biggest game that Martin and her team have played for several years and she knows how important a victory could be for the sport in this country.

“This is huge for us,” the captain says. “For the past few months we’ve had other matches going on so I’ve tried to keep these Spain games at the back of my mind but now they’re here, everyone realises how big a deal they are.”

The draw for the 2017 World Cup, which will take place in Ireland, was made last week and Scotland know that if they can negotiate these qualifying matches, they face the tantalising prospect of sharing a group with holders England, as well as USA and Italy.

However, Martin is not getting ahead of herself as she knows how stiff competition Spain, who at number nine in the world rankings are four places above Scotland, will be. A victory over their European opponents 12 months ago does give Martin plenty of hope though.

“Beating Spain last year gives us some confidence,” the 26 year-old says. “They’ll have quite a different team from last year because they’ve got their sevens girls back and we’ve got a very changed squad too, so it’ll be good to see how the games go.”

Women’s rugby in Scotland has improved beyond recognition in recent years. They receive far more investment than in the past and with the former Glasgow Warriors coach, Shade Munroe, taking charge of the women’s team last year, the increased support is starting to show in the team’s performances.

Martin, who plays her club rugby for Murrayfield Wanderers, is aware that if her team can qualify for next year’s World Cup, her sport could benefit from a huge boost in terms of public profile.

“If we can get to this World Cup, the younger generations can then aspire to doing it themselves,” she says. “If we qualify, it could give the sport in Scotland a huge boost. And the match is on BBC Alba which is massive for us – to think that a Scottish women’s rugby match will be on live television is something that we never anticipated.

“If people see the game on television, maybe that will encourage them to go down to a ground as a spectator in the future or get involved in the sport in some other way.”

As a child, Martin was introduced to rugby by her dad, who was a big fan, but her initial goal says much about how low-profile women’s rugby was at that time.

“When I was seven or eight, I knew absolutely nothing about women’s rugby and when I began playing, my ambition was to be the first woman to play in a man’s team because I didn’t ever think that playing in a women’s team was a possibility,” she says.

“With my first club, Portabello, we’d play against boys teams and they’d always target the girls in the team. I think that toughened me up, actually.”

At only 5ft 5ins tall, Martin is not exactly challenging the Gray brothers in terms of physical stature but she believes that her mindset is far more important that her height.

“It’s never really worried me that I’m small,” she says, before adding: “It’s more of a mental thing – if you’ve got the mindset that you can do it then you absolutely can.”

Martin has been involved in the Scotland programmes since she was 13, making her senior debut as a late call-up to Scotland’s 2010 World Cup squad.

“I do still sometimes get surprised reactions when I tell people that I’m a rugby player,” she says. “You have to explain it and try to change their perceptions because there’s still stereotypes in terms of women’s sport.

“But it’s getting better. And nowadays, there are so many opportunities for young girls to play rugby which is fantastic.”

When the Spain double-header is over, Martin and her team will almost immediately turn their attention to the Six Nations. And with three home games in 2017, Martin is hopeful that her team can make a mark this year. “We’re feeling pretty confident,” she says. “We want to improve on the little things and get some momentum going. The Six Nations is such a special tournament so to have that coming up soon after the Spain matches is fantastic.”

Scotland Women V Spain Women tonight at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm).

Tickets available on scottishrugby.org/tickets Adults £5, U-18s and Scotland Season Pass holders free.