And things don’t look like improving any time soon if the form book is anything to go by, New Zealand lifting the World Cup last year and going unbeaten on their way to claiming the inaugural Rugby Championship last month.

But Scotland themselves are in good form, winning their last three Tests including a famous 9-6 victory in Australia, helping put the disappointment of losing all of their games at the 2012 RBS 6 Nations behind them.

And Strokosch, who plies his trade in France for Perpignan, is urging his Scotland team-mates to head into the clash with no preconceptions of the task ahead.

"New Zealand are the best team in the world and we will have to raise our game from where it's been if we want to knock them off," said Strokosch, who made his international debut in 2006.

"But I wouldn't step on the pitch if I didn't believe we could do it. We are going up against 15 other human beings, they are not supermen.

"They have always been either the best or one of the best teams in the world and definitely one of the most entertaining sides.

"Anyone who has ever played or watched rugby knows about the All Blacks and what they represent.

"But it's just another game and you can't go into it with that level of awe."