If they lose this one it almost certainly guarantees them a second successive RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon.

John Kirwan went on record before the tournament started and said that his team would win away from home this season for the first time in the RBS 6 Nations, and I have little doubt that Scotland was the game they would have been targeting.

Italy will have looked at the dominance Irelands forwards were able to achieve against Scotland, and bearing in mind the tough time that the Italians gave Ireland, they will be pretty confident of taking the Scots on up front.

You can bet your bottom dollar that Italy will be looking to attack the Scottish forwards, and the selection of Christian Stoica in the midfield confirms that they will be looking to play a very direct game.

Jason White has been in outstanding form so far this season and has put himself into the Lions reckoning. If he has to miss the game through injury it would be a real blow to Scotland, although the return of Simon Taylor from injury is pretty positive news.

I would not have expected Matt Williams to have picked Taylor so early on in his recovery, but his hand may be forced by the injury to White.

Id also like to see Gordon Ross picked at fly-half ahead of Dan Parks. Ross is a good tactical kicker and while he may not be quite as good a passer as Parks, he is defensively far stronger.

I felt Parks was exposed in defence against Ireland and Ross would provide far more protection in that area of the pitch.

Its also worth remembering that the last game that Ross started - against Samoa - was a game that Scotland won comfortably.

The Scots really have to win this game to maintain their self-respect, but its not going to be easy by any means.