However he won’t be alone in making his first start with wing Jones’ Edinburgh teammate David Denton completing the honour and Ross Rennie set for his first Six Nations start.

Jones has been in fine form this season and last month scored two tries as Edinburgh earned a bonus-point win over London Irish to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-final for the first time in eight years.

And it is such a performance that has given Jones, who when starting out believed his Scotland debut would come at scrum-half, the confidence that success will be forthcoming.

“The three tries in the Heineken Cup have been a personal highlight for me and hopefully I can take that onto the pitch for Scotland,” said Jones.

“It’s definitely going to be the biggest match of my career and it’s a dream come true to be involved – it has always been a dream to get a first cap.

“I thought I had a chance this week. I didn’t want to think that too strongly because I didn’t want to be let down but I had a fair idea that I’d be in with a chance.

“But it always hits you, the debut, and it would always be against England at Murrayfield if I had a choice so that makes it extra special.

“I’m expecting a physical, quick game, a step above what I’ve been playing and hopefully I can cope with that.”