Johnston will make her first RBS 6 Nations return to Italy since her Scotland debut two years ago, where the two sides battled to a 6-6 draw in Colleferro thanks to Sarah Gill’s two second-half penalties.

But, after a 20-6 defeat in last year’s competition resigned Scotland to last place, Johnston believes her teammates can stop the rot and pass the unwanted award into the hands of the Italians.

"I'm really looking forward to the game on Sunday - I really feel so much more confident now,” said Johnston.

"The Italians were really tough two years ago. That was the biggest game I'd ever played and really I didn't expect how tough international rugby was going to be. It's really such a jump from playing at club level, or playing the police or the army.

"It was a fantastic opportunity to be called into the squad - obviously I was very nervous before the game and I suppose I didn't really expect to get on then, when there was an injury, I just had to go on and do the job.

“I guess I've now got two years under my belt and feel really settled in the squad and just know what I'm going to do with regards to my job in the team.

"I think we just need to keep doing what we're doing. We are getting consistently better both in defence and attack and in the chances we've had to attack we've shown that we can break the gain line and make yards.

"We just need to back ourselves, make that extra ten metres and cross the line. I think we have every chance of doing that on Sunday afternoon."

Lisa Martin starts at inside centre with Lisa Ritchie moving to the bench while Tess Forsberg and Ruth Slaven are switched similarly at openside flanker. Flanker Mary Lafaiki returns from injury to complete the substitutes.

15. Stephanie Johnston
14. Katy Green
13. Laura Steven
12. Lisa Martin
11. Sarah Dixon
10. Tanya Griffith
9. Louise Dalgliesh
1. Tracy Balmer
2. Sarah Quick
3. Beth Dickens
4. Anna Swan
5. Jemma Forsyth
6. Lindsay Wheeler
7. Tess Forsberg
8. Susie Brown

Replacements
16. Alison Macdonald
17. Heather Lockhart
18. Katherine Muir
19. Ruth Slaven
20. Mary Lafaiki
21. Lisa Ritchie
22. Lauren Harris