A knock has ruled Brown out meaning Worcester prop Tracy Balmer will skipper the side while scrum-half Louise Dalgliesh will lead the team out on her 50^th cap.

Even with Brown in their ranks, Karen Findlay’s side would have faced a huge task against an England side that conquered all before them in 2011 and thrashed Scotland 89-0 at Twickenham.

And Brown, who will be cheering her side on from the sidelines, is hoping Scotland can seize the sense of occasion at Lasswade .

“Unfortunately on a personal note I am not involved in the England game due to not recovering from a knock in time but I am really looking forward to the match,” Brown wrote on her Scottish rugby blog.

“We did some serious soul searching as a squad after 6N 2011 and hope the work we’ve put in will show dividends this tournament.

“England up first is always a tough ask – they are already flying after beating New Zealand in back-to-back tests in November and are strong favourites to win an unprecedented seventh Championship this year.

“You’ve always got to raise your game when you play against some of the best in the world and I know that hosting the auld enemy on home soil always stirs the soul.

“The team will be captained by Tracy Balmer, who did an incredible job of leading the team to victory in November against the Dutch – she is an uncompromising tighthead prop who has the running lines of a centre!

“Leading out the team will be scrum-half Louise Dalgliesh who will earn her 50th cap today. It is a massive achievement – not many players make it into the 50 club and it is something to be hugely proud of.”