The former Edinburgh Gunners boss was named as full-time successor to Matt Williams and has handed uncapped back-row trio Simon Cross, Paul Dearlove and Andy Miller a chance to impress in his first training squad.

Now, as he prepares for the autumn Test series against New Zealand, Argentina and Samoa in November, the Scotland coach is looking for a new captain after Gordon Bulloch retired from the international scene.

Glasgow Warriors number eight Jon Petrie and Chris Paterson of Edinburgh would be high among the candidates but Hadden will discuss the situation with fellow coaches Hugh Campbell and Steve Bates before making any definite decision.

Hadden said: ''As far as captaincy is concerned, I will be speaking to my fellow coaches when we gather for the first time.

''We have a number of candidates for captain and we will be assessing leadership qualities and their aptitude for the job during the squad sessions over the next few weeks.''

Edinburgh Gunners' Cross has previously been involved in the Scotland squad in the RBS 6 Nations in 2004 while Dearlove of Glasgow Warriors and Border Reivers' Miller joined the tour of Australia as replacements in the same year.

Hadden will use the forthcoming Celtic League matches involving the three Scottish professional teams as trials, while the sessions next week will involve 'organisational' work.

Hadden said: ''Our focus at the session will be purely on organising the set-piece, our attack and our defence.

''In the two days next week, we will have four organisational sessions to begin our preparations for our autumn Tests against Argentina, Samoa and New Zealand.''

Seven players are listed as not available for selection through injury, including Gregor Townsend, Scotland's most-capped player, and Tom Philip, who has been absent since the summer of 2004.

Scotland squad for training at Murrayfield on October 3 and 4:

Backs: Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Andy Craig (Glasgow), Chris Cusiter (Border), Simon Danielli (Border), Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow), Ben Hinshelwood (Worcester), Sean Lamont (Northampton), Rory Lamont (Glasgow), Stuart Moffat (Border), Dan Parks (Glasgow), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Gordon Ross (Leeds), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Simon Webster (Edinburgh).

Forwards: Kelly Brown (Border), Simon Cross (Edinburgh), Paul Dearlove (Glasgow), Bruce Douglas (Border), Ross Ford (Border), Scott Gray (Border), Dougie Hall (Edinburgh), Craig Hamilton (Glasgow), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh), Gavin Kerr (Leeds), Scott Lawson (Glasgow), Andy Miller (Border), Scott Murray (Edinburgh), Craig Smith (Edinburgh), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh), Andrew Wilson (Glasgow), Jason White (Sale).