The 30-year-old will make his 20^th appearance under Robinson - earning his 78th cap in all - at Murrayfield on Sunday but it will only be his sixth start under the former England coach.

Chris Cusiter has been preferred at scrum-half but for the visit of the World Cup runners-up Blair has been handed the chance to show what he can do alongside club-mate Greig Laidlaw.

It is the ninth time in as many games Robinson has chosen to shuffle his half-back pairing and Blair is desperate to show the Scotland coach he’s struck upon the right combination.

“I think there’s a slightly different balance to the way we play the game,” said Blair of comparisons between himself and Cusiter.

“We both bring different things to the party and I’m happy to get the call this time.

“You’ve got to back your own ability and you have to be aware that anything could happen, Chris could have been injured in the first minute of the England game, and then that suddenly opens things up for myself.

"Equally, I’ve now got the opportunity to show what I can do.”