The Edinburgh players 22 caps have been mostly won coming off the bench and indeed it was his second-half performance last week against Wales at Murrayfield which prompted coach Matt Williams to thrust him into the starting line-up for the RBS 6 Nations finale at Twickenham.

However, Blair claims he is now better prepared than ever to stake a claim for a regular berth in the future.

He said: It might be my first start since the World Cup but it doesnt play on my mind, I feel more relaxed this time and I dont feel under pressure.

Its about the way that I fit into the team and I will just concentrate on what part I have to play within the strategy.

It could have been the case that I tried to do too much myself before but Im not going to reflect on that too much.

This is a game two years later on and Ive got a lot more experience since then so Ill just plug away and hopefully things will go well.

Despite the Scots still reeling from their thrashing by the Welsh in Edinburgh last week, Blair has no fears about taking on the English at a venue where Scotland have not won since 1983.

He said: I dont see confidence being a problem and England is a massive game however you are doing in the championship.

These games are the reasons why you play rugby and so this is a huge opportunity for all of us.

And there is no fear that England will get it together in the last game against us, in fact the same might be same with regards our team.

Scotland have shown patches of outstanding rugby throughout the championship, there have been bad moments and problems areas but if we click as well then well be very dangerous again.