Until two serious injuries curtailed his involvement this season, the 24-year-old breakaway forward had featured in every Scotland match since making his international debut against Wales at the beginning of the 2004 Six Nations.

He suffered a shoulder injury playing for Edinburgh against Glasgow on September 29 last year, which kept him out of action for over a month.

Then, just six minutes into his comeback match for Edinburgh against Cardiff on November 3, he ruptured the medial ligament in his right knee.

That injury ruled him out of Scotlands autumn Tests against Romania, the Pacific Islanders and Australia, and also cast doubt on whether he would be fit to face England in Scotlands Six Nations curtain-raiser.

Hogg made the bench, and national coach Frank Hadden has handed him two late cameo appearances over the last fortnight against England and Wales.

He now intends to use Edinburghs match against Leinster in Dublin this weekend to demonstrate he is ready to reclaim a starting berth in the Scottish back row.

Obviously I want to start and Ive got a chance to put my case for Edinburgh this weekend, so I just have to go out there and play well and give Frank a real selection headache, he said.

None of the injuries are bothering me too much anymore. Its just a case of getting used to taking the bumps and bruises again. Im a little bit sorer than normal after the games because I havent played for such a long time  but apart from that Im feeling really good.

The body is fresh, and Im just enjoying being in the set-up and playing rugby again.

Hogg faces a tough challenge if he is to usurp either Dave Callam or Kelly Brown for a Scotland starting spot, but he is enjoying the challenge of taking on two old team-mates.

He said: I played age-group rugby with both Kelly and Dave, so I know what they are capable of and they know what I am capable of, so it should be an interesting little battle for a starting place in the Scotland team over the next few weeks.