The resurgent Welsh have already beaten England, Italy and France and if they triumph on Sunday, then they need only to dispose of Ireland six days later in Cardiff for their first Grand Slam since 1978.

The 28-year-old powerhouse admits the task of stopping the confident visitors, despite Wales having won in Edinburgh only once in 20 years, will not be an easy one.

He said: At the moment they have got a truck load of enthusiasm, that is the difference in them this year from last year.

They have got a great deal of character and a great spirit. The coaching staff have grabbed guys from different clubs, gelled them together and they look as if they have been playing together for years.

They have stepped it up and they are throwing themselves into everything and we are just going to have to match them.

The Scots go into the game on the back of their welcome victory over Italy, their first RBS 6 Nations win in two years, and Hines insists the confidence gained from the long-awaited win will help the dark blues cause no end.

And the Edinburgh lock claims familiarity with the Welsh players at club level will also give the Scots a further edge.

He said: There is less pressure for this match. Going into the Italy game, everyone expected us to win and there was pressure on us so it was a relief to get that victory and something we dont have to worry about this week.

Now we can concentrate all our energies on beating Wales without having that monkey on our back.

But they are certainly not unknowns to us, we have seen what they are like under pressure.

Edinburgh have put every player in their team under pressure at one point or another this season so we know they can be put back on their heels.

But at the moment they are playing with a lot of confidence and it is going to take a lot to do that.

But if we glue all the parts of our game together then that is when our confidence is going to come. But it is going to be a good match-up between the two teams.