The giant forward has signed on with Edinburgh for the 2008/09 season in a bid to secure more game time and thus secure his place in the engine room of Frank Hadden's pack.

Hamilton started the RBS 6 Nations as a first choice but looked undercooked in terms of match preparation as a result of the competition for places at Premiership giants Leicester.

Now he hopes to play regularly for Edinburgh at the start of next season - then for Scotland in the Autumn Tests and in the 2009 RBS 6 Nations next Spring.

His ultimate ambition is to be part of former Scotland coach Ian McGeechan's squad to face the world champion Springboks next summer.

He said: "Now the season has ended I'm already setting my own targets for this time next year. I want to be playing every week, I want to feel as if I'm part of a team that is doing well and I want to feel as if I'm developing.

"In terms of the Scotland team, I want to hold down a place and obviously at the end of next season there is a Lions Tour and that would be the ultimate goal.

"But as I've said before I just want to be playing regular rugby and to become a better player."