Murdoch stuns unbeaten Canada with shock victory

DAVID Murdoch's Scotland stunned a partisan home crowd to beat reigning champions Canada at the World Curling Championships in Moncton.

COMEBACK KID: David Murdoch has revived his flagging hopes at the World Championships with four back-to-back wins in 48 hours (Getty Images)

48 hours earlier defeat against lowly-ranked China and the Czech Republic had left Murdoch's hopes of upgrading last year's silver medal hanging in the balance.

But he's bounced back to win the next four matches on the spin - with the prized scalp of Kevin Martin's Canadian rink, unbeaten for 12 months, the crowning glory.

Scotland will now face Canada again in the one v two play-off game with the winner advancing to the final and loser getting a second chance in the semi-final.

Norway and the USA and Germany and Switzerland will contest the tie-breakers and the winners of those games will then play another match for a place in the semi-final.

Scotland beat Denmark 10-3 to secure their spot in the knockout stages but Canada was the win skip Murdoch really wanted.

The hosts had already booked their place in the one v two play-off and the five-time Scottish and reigning European champion knows he'll face a different side when they size up for a rematch on Friday.

"There was a lot at stake for us and not so much for them," he admitted, after the 6-5 extra end win.

"However, you still need to play pretty well to beat Canada. IIt just shows that all the time and effort we put into our training and the work we do is worthwhile. 

"This team has got a great belief in itself, and we showed that again."