ARRIVING in Fiji is an interesting experience. There is the heat, the humidity, the enthusiastic welcome as you exit the plane, the band playing next to passport control to soothe tempers as you wait.

And there, I have an apology. The people behind me had to endure a long, long wait while I was having my documents checked. Not, you understand, anything resembling a problem, just my answer to "why are you visiting?"

As soon as rugby was mentioned, the paperwork was forgotten. Scotland had been fantastic against Australia; Fiji a bit lucky against Italy; how did I think the teams would get on when they played each other?

Read more: Ross Ford poised to break Scotland caps record with start against Fiji

Ten minutes later and the customs officer and I were still analysing why the Fijians can't stick to a game plan – that was the Fijian point of view, I hadn't had my passport stamped yet – and how Scotland have come good by adopting Fijian tactics.

It all brought home two things: first, Fiji loves its rugby, there is a TV channel devoted to nothing else. Second, they have a soft spot for Scotland. They understand a country that is the small relation to bigger neighbours.

Perhaps that helps explain why two of their brightest stars have such a close affiliation with Scotland. Fijian players have been travelling abroad since before the game went professional, but the warmth in Leone Nakarawa and Niko Matawalu when they come to talk about their times at Glasgow Warriors goes way beyond professional dealings.The Herald:

"Whenever I go to Glasgow it is like coming to Fiji. Honestly it is like coming to Fiji, like coming to my home," enthused Nakarawa, the lock who did so much to take Glasgow to the Guinness PRO12 final two years ago.

"Going to Glasgow was the first time I had left my family for any length of time. I missed home a bit to begin with, but the Glasgow boys really helped me and made it really, really made it easy for me. So it is kind of my home."

He has left for the riches of Racing 92 now, but the affinity remains. Ryan Wilson is one of his closest friends – "His kids love me so much. Every time they call me on Skype or WhatsApp they call me uncle – Uncle Naknak," he proudly recalled – and he keeps in close touch with others he played alongside.

"Ryan Wilson; he is my Scottish brother. Every time I go back to Scotland and to Glasgow I stay at his place. I am just like his own brother," said Nakarawa.

Read more: Ross Ford poised to break Scotland caps record with start against Fiji

"For 80 minutes on Saturday, he is my enemy, the rest of the time he is my brother. Glasgow has a special place in my heart as I have been saying for a couple of years."

Matawalu is similarly enthusiastic. Since he is still in the UK, it is easier for him to get in his car and drive up to see his old mates. "I’m always in touch," he said. "I went to their last game of the season against Edinburgh. I stay in contact. The family is still there. I call them my brothers."

While they share the love of all things Glasgow Warriors, they also deeply, deeply appreciate all that the club did for them. Matawalu was spotted playing against Scotland five years ago, Nakarawa was on the sevens circuit when he was offered a deal.

Gregor Townsend, then the Glasgow Warriors head coach and now in charge of Scotland takes a lot of the credit. He found ways to unleash their Fijian talents while keeping some semblance of a team structure.

"He did a lot of things to make me a better player – skills-wise, running-wise. His kind of game is like the Fijian style. He loves to play fast rugby," Matawalu enthused.

Nakarawa was just as fulsome in his praise: "He is one of my best coaches I have worked under. He taught me a lot, things like offloading. He told me how to do it, when to do it. He has helped me a lot in my rugby career," he said.

"Glasgow was my first club so they became my friends, my close brothers – including the coaches who taught me a lot about positional roles and responsibilities during games. I want to thank them for that, for what they did for me. They have helped me so much."

All of which means they think they know what to expect on Saturday. "They will try all sorts of play to break down our defence; they will play the Glasgow way. They will play offloads and be full of quick action," Nakarawa predicted.

Read more: Ross Ford poised to break Scotland caps record with start against Fiji

He also understands that the Glasgow players understand how to wind him up: "They know I have a short fuse. They try to make me angry because I am emotional – but I have moved on. If I were going to be soft against Scotland and the Glasgow boys I would not be helping my team," he admitted.

"I am going to stay cool and I will have my [Fiji] team-mates to help me play well."

It is not just the Glasgow Warriors players who have an insight, though. Viliame Mata is still at Edinburgh and in the Fiji squad, while in John Hardie, the Scots have an inside line on some of the New Zealand-based players.

"I have played rugby with Patrick Osborne who might be on the wing this weekend. He is a great player and you might have [Josua] Tuisova [the hooker] as well," said the flanker who is over the back problem that ruled him out of the Italy game at the last second.

"You have got to be ready for anything. I have played in the same team as Patrick and he can do some pretty special things, most of their players can do the same.

"It is going to be a physical game, we already knew that. They are big boys and strong as well so we have to get our technique right," he said.

Maybe the Fiji-Scotland love affair will be suspended for the duration of the match, but the band of brothers are sure to be reunited in the after-match festivities.