If Edinburgh coach Lynn Howells was pulling the strings, Allister Hogg, Simon Webster and Rob Dewey would sit out Saturdays Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.

However the decision is down to Hadden, and having seen the Edinburgh trio come through the 49-31 win against Connacht with a clean bill of health, Hadden could take the high-rolling option by selecting both men, and Borders scrum-half Chris Cusiter, for the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against England.

Logic suggests Hogg and Webster, though fit for the first time since November, would struggle to cope with the pace and physicality of Six Nations combat.

Flanker Hogg, 23, was an ever-present in last year's tournament as Haddens team won three of their five matches, including their Murrayfield clash with England.

However he suffered medial knee ligament damage while making a comeback from a shoulder injury on November 3.

Wing Webster, 25, suffered a leg injury in Scotlands 44-15 defeat by Australia on November 25.

Dewey, a centre, is two matches into his comeback following a knee cartilage injury, but his two tries against Connacht were an indication of a return to form as well as fitness.

Yet Howells has expressed reservations about his players being thrust onto the Six Nations stage, leaving the decision up to Hadden but making his position perfectly clear.

Cusiter showed no ill-effects from his Celtic League outing for Borders, apart from the mental bruising of a 48-0 battering by Newport Gwent Dragons, and he seems to be involved on Saturday.

Cusiter had been sidelined since dislocating a shoulder in November, and his return was another indication of Scotlands improving fortunes on the fitness front.

Meanwhile the Scottish Rugby Union has made a timely signing, recruiting the motivational guru whose doctrines inspired Englands 2003 World Cup triumph.

Yehuda Shinar, from Israel, became a trusted ally of Sir Clive Woodward before the triumph in Australia and his methods and message were referred to in the former England coachs autobiography.

Shinar has also played a key role within the Scottish Institute of Sport, preaching his think correctly under pressure (T-CUP) message.

Hadden said: Now that a lot of the foundation stones are in place, the time is right to focus more specifically on the mechanics of winning than ever before.

Having watched Yehuda operate both with players and coaches, I have no doubt that he can enhance the atmosphere we are trying to create.