Edinburgh Rugby is targeting the UK Heineken Cup quarter-final attendance record for Easter Saturday's showdown with four-time champions Toulouse at Murrayfield after sailing through 30,000 sales.
The game is already guaranteed to set a record for a club game in Scotland involving a Scottish side and will enter the Top 20 gates for quarter-finals in Heineken Cup history. But, as well as an historic win to earn a first semi-final, Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley is hoping to seat least another 7,000 fans turn-out at the weekend.
That would allow Edinburgh and Murrayfield to wrestle the UK Heineken Cup quarter-final attendance record away from Cardiff Blues and the Millennium Stadium. The record currently stands at 36,728 for the Blues' win over Toulouse in Cardiff in 2009.
Leading Heineken Cup Quarter Final Attendances
55,000 Perpignan 29, Toulon 25 Olympic Stadium, Barcelona 2011
49,762 Leinster 17, Leicester Tigers 10 Aviva Stadium 2011
48,500 Leinster 13, Leicester Tigers 29 Lansdowne Road 2005
48,500 Munster 19, Perpignan 10 Lansdowne Road 2006
46,000 Leinster 18, Biarritz Olympique 13 Lansdowne Road 2003
45,000 Stade Francais Paris 48, Newcastle Falcons 8 Parc de Princes 2005
37,815 Toulouse 35, Leinster 41 Le Stadium 2006
37,000 Toulouse 31, Montferrand 18 Le Stadium 2000
37,000 Toulouse 37, Northampton Saints 9 Le Stadium 2005
36,728 Cardiff Blues 9, Toulouse 6 Millennium Stadium 2009
36,500 Toulouse 36, Edinburgh 10 Le Stadium 2004
35,089 Toulouse 42, Stade Francais Paris 16 Le Stadium 2010
35,070 Toulouse 41, Cardiff Blues 17 Le Stadium 2008
32,052 Biarritz Olympique 20, Toulouse 27 (AET) Estadio Anoeta 2011
32,000 Biarritz Olympique 11, Sale Sharks 6 Estadio Anoeta 2006
32,000 Biarritz Olympique 6, Northampton Saints 7 Estadio Anoeta 2007
With advance purchase discounts for Saturday's first Heineken Cup quarter-final available up to Thursday, 5 April, there is every chance of Murrayfield filling up even more - especially in the wake of Friday night's 26-23 win over the Scarlets..
"We can't thank our fans enough for the overwhelming support shown for this fixture, it's going to be tremendous day, with lots happening in and around the ground to bring the stadium to life. With less than a week to go the anticipation is really starting to mount for this very exciting, and very significant, match in Edinburgh Rugby's history," said Bradley.
No Scottish side has ever made it past this stage, with the club's last and only foray into the last eight in 2004, when they faced Toulouse at Le Stadium Municipal. This time Edinburgh has home advantage and Bradley has called on the fans to make their presence felt.
"There's no question that Toulouse, the four-time champions and arguably the biggest name in European rugby, will pose a massive challenge. That's why we need every voice we can muster out there on Saturday, screaming on our boys for 80 minutes by coming decked out in black and red, banging drums, waving flags, swinging scarves and singing songs - anything they can do to ensure every supporter plays their part in making the most of home advantage," he added.
To add to the match-day hype, the club confirmed details of a stadium street party to be hosted in the Murrayfield grounds before and after the game. Rock covers band 'Schtick of Rock' will headline the pre-match proceedings from a centrepiece to food and drink outlets on the lawn outside the east stand from 1pm.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, avoid delays and soak up the pre-match atmosphere, where they will also be treated by an array of pipers, drummers, samba bands, face-painters and several thousand free black and red flags, which will be distributed as part of the pre-match build up.
Trackside standing and Lower and Upper East tickets have already sold out, but fans can still purchase tickets for the Lower North and South, Upper North/South corner, Upper North and Upper West stands.
Adult tickets bought by Thursday are from £15-£25, concessions from £10 and students and U18s from £5. Prices rise on Friday and Saturday.
