Finn Russell begins what he hopes will be a trophy-laden summer of rugby as he competes in a showpiece European occasion in Cardiff this evening. The former Wallace High pupil has been in stellar form for his club side Bath this season, orchestrating from the key fly-half spot as the side from the south-west of England embark on a dominating domestic campaign where they have lost only three times in 17 matches. Before the Premiership play-offs begin next month and the search for an English title begins, Bath will take on French cracks Lyon in the Challenge Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in the Welsh capital. Bath secured their spot in that final with an away semi-final win against Edinburgh at the Hive earlier this month, with Russell seeing off fellow Stirling player Grant Gilchrist in that contest. His French counterpart in the Cardiff final, Lyon number ten Léo Berdeu, is the competition’s leading scorer with 64 points so far - including two tries - so the Bridge of Allan star will be eager to get on top of that contest. Meanwhile, Russell’s stellar season in the English divisions has seen him nominated for a top award at the conclusion of the season. He has been put forward in a five-man shortlist for the Premiership Player of the Season award alongside team-mate Thomas du Toit, Tom Willis from Saracens, George Ford from Sale and Russell’s fellow British and Irish Lion, Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams from Gloucester. After the European final, the matches don’t get any less important - with Bath then assured of a play-off semi-final at home on June 6. A success there would then lead to a final at Twickenham a week later - and the chance for Russell to scoop a second trophy in as many weeks. Following that, a third British and Irish Lions tour will follow shortly afterwards. It begins with a warm-up match in Dublin against Argentina before heading Down Under for the tour, with the first Test Match due to take place against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.