CARDIFF, United Kingdom, May 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Scotland fly-half Finn Russell says ending the season with a treble for club side Bath will be crucial to his aspirations of claiming a Test spot with the British and Irish Lions this summer.

The English club beat Lyon 37-12 on Friday to lift the Challenge Cup, following on from Premiership Cup success in March.

They have already secured a home Premiership semi-final on June 6 and are favourites for the title having lost just three times in the league this season.

"You have to make sure you're playing every game," Russell told reporters after cruising past the French outfit in Cardiff.

"If I want to be in that Test squad, I've got to be playing well at club (level) and hopefully winning more stuff this season and then going into the Lions from that," the 32-year-old added.

Maverick Russell is one of two Bath players in the Lions squad alongside England prop Will Stuart, with their first warm-up game etched into the calendar for June 20, against Argentina in Dublin.

The tourists then fly to Australia for nine games, with the first Test against the Wallabies taking place on July 19.

- 'Work starts now' -

Former Racing 92 playmaker Russell was a mid-tour call-up in 2017 in New Zealand, before coming off the bench in the third Test defeat to South Africa four years later.

"Myself and 'Stewie', we know that the Lions Tour is coming up," the in-form Russell said.

"From my experience and past experiences, you can't think about potential injuries.

"Once you're selected, that's brilliant but the work only starts now."

The Lions squad met up for the first time last week for squad photos, preliminary meetings and media interviews.

"It was brilliant to go and meet up with all the boys, the coaches and get to know everyone for the first time," Russell said.

"I can't wait to get back into camp but at the same time I've got a lot to do before I get back in there."

Before the Pumas game, Russell and Bath are eyeing a first Premiership title since 1996.

South African head coach Johann van Graan is attempting to go one better than last season's loss in the final.

"There's Saracens next weekend and then there's a semi-final," Russell said.

"We've got a lot of big games to come through before we even have a look at the trophy.

"As brilliant as winning this (the Challenge Cup) is, we've got a lot to do before we come to the Premiership, knockouts and semis, finals," he added.