Robinson has added Ford’s Scotland team-mates Chris Paterson and Jim Hamilton to his squad during the close season, adding to the feel-good factor around the club.

And Ford, who was a try-scorer in Scotland historic victory over Argentina in the second Test of the summer series, feels the squad is strong enough to move even further up the table.

He said: “I would say our chances of doing well are pretty strong. We’ve kept the same good group of players, who have got a lot of potential. Hopefully this year we can fulfil that potential.

“At the start of last season, nobody expected we would finish where we did. Now it has happened, this year everyone will be more aware of us, but hopefully we can do even better and finish even higher in the Celtic League.”