Comedian Rob Rouse and critic Edd McCracken have both been talking up their chances to the press ahead of the Comedians .v. Critics football match that's taking place on Sunday.

The pair practiced their sliding tackles, flying elbows, 50-50 balls and argy-bargy in front of the press, as the referee from charity organisation Amnesty International struggled to keep order. He will have his work cut out come Sunday when Amnesty and Fest magazine invites comedians performing at the Fringe to take on a team of comedy critics for a game of football at the Meadowbank Stadium.

Rob Rouse, who is captaining the comedians team this year, told the Amnesty Comedy Podcast: "We'll just be wearing stockings and football boots. It intimidates the enemy. You'd think twice about going in hard on a man who's so confident in his footballing prowess that he's not wearing a kit. Especially if he's smoking. That's what the modern game's all about - you don't get ahead unless you've got a fully-aroused, naked team, save for a pair of stockings and, er... boots. Hair ruffling and bottom patting, there'll be a lot of that... and there'll be no training. I'll be encouraging my players to smoke and drink on the pitch."

Meanwhile Edd McCracken, the Sunday Herald critic, is sure his well-drilled team of journalists will succeed in the grudge match: "I don't think my boys will have much to worry about come Sunday. Everyone knows that comedians are a bunch of rampant individualists who could never pull together as a team. They all drink too much, smoke twenty a day and have never seen the inside of a gym. Nothing like us journalists. We'll be first to the ball every time, strong in the tackle and incisive in our passing." Edd admits his team have a backup plan though to ensure they win: the threat of a bad review.

The match is being organised to highlight Amnesty's campaign for Zarganar, Burma's top comedian, who is currently serving a 35-year jail sentence for speaking out against the government. Rouse says: "My team will be spurred on because we're playing for Zarganar. Apparently he's a big footy fan, so we'll all have his name on our shirts on Sunday."

Amnesty International UK spokesperson Steve Ballinger says: "We're used to dealing with some pretty appalling abuses but I still think Sunday's game mightn't be one for the faint-hearted. There are clearly some scores to settle between this lot. Amnesty's job is to ensure fair play. And we're here at the festival to campaign for freedom of expression, so we might have to take it on the chin if they start abusing the officials."

It's going to be a star studded pitch on Sunday. Over 20 comedians have already signed up to play, with the squad list including Simon Munnery, Alex Horne, Jonny Sweet, Simon Brodkin (aka Lee Nelson) and Doc Brown.

The match kicks off on Sunday 15th August 2010 at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium at 1.45pm. Spectators are more than welcome, and admission is free.

To find out more about the match see our listing (link below). Amnesty are also getting involved in this year's Fringe in a number of other ways, including holding a big all-star comedy night on the 19th August (listing), and releasing a series of comedy podcasts. To find out more about all the organisation's Edinburgh activities visit their website at www.amnesty.org.uk/edfest