Italy currently prop up the RBS 6 Nations table, but an impressive performance against England in their last game underlined the fact that since joining the competition in 2000 they have developed into serious players in Europes flagship international rugby tournament.

Its a 6 Nations game, its massive, and if we lose this one its a disaster really  so there is not much help needed when it comes to focusing the mind, said 27-year-old back-rower Taylor.

The pressure is the same against Italy as it is with anybody. Scotland are never in a position where we can be complacent  we have to be right up there for every game we play if were going to win, he added.

If wed lost to Wales last week that would have been two defeats from the opening two games, and we would definitely have been more uptight  but I never go into a game feeling at ease.

You only had to watch Italy last week, when they were containing England and getting the upper hand at times in the game, to know this is a really big challenge. I think Italy had more control up front than we did at Twickenham.

Although Italy have defeated Scotland twice in the RBS 6 Nations (in 2000 and 2004), they have yet to win a championship match against any opposition away from home. Taylor knows that they will be targeting this weekends match as a prime opportunity to break that duck  and he says that Scotland must stick to their guns if they are to prevail.

I tend not to predict what will happen in games because you never know how it will go, but I suppose we are two fairly evenly-matched teams in a lot of ways. Im sure theyll play to their strength and weve got to try to play to our strengths, he said.

Theyve got a great pack, but every game you play you try to get your set-piece as good as possible  so I dont think the emphasis changes that much. You look at their players and their individual strengths, but you are still trying to play your own game.

Taylor was in the Scotland team when they lost in Rome in 2004, but he believes his team have come a long way since Frank Hadden took over from Matt Williams as head coach the following year.