© Michael Steele/Getty Images

Main issues

Saturday's performance against Ireland was, for 60 minutes at least, encouraging but it was another defeat to add to the list. Head coach Vern Cotter may have been awarded a new contract, but the team has slipped to 12th in the world rankings and will need to start turning promising performances into victories if they are to make any kind of impression next month.

Squad strength

The sight of Ryan Grant departing the action in Dublin with a protective boot fitted snugly around his right ankle would not have warmed Cotter or Scotland fans. There was a promising debut for New Zealand-born flanker Hugh Blake against Ireland, while old heads have been brought back in to provide experience. One-time forward Richie Vernon also made gains with ball in hand at centre, but Greig Tonks' preference for a fly-half role could leave them short of cover at full-back.

Injury concerns

Scotland are still waiting on the results of Grant's scan, and although there is no fracture his injury could yet rule him out. Blake and Fraser Brown also picked up knocks against Ireland but while the former has since returned to training, Brown's hamstring issue is more of a concern with Kevin Bryce called up as cover. There is good news surrounding the fitness of Mark Bennett, who could feature on the weekend, but fellow centre Alex Dunbar is rated as only 50-50 to play at the World Cup.

What are the locals saying

"Leading into the World Cup, there hasn't been any "dark horses" talk around this Scotland side. In fact, nobody is really talking about us at all. As I say, this will be fine by Cotter and his squad, but the irony is that this has the makings of one of the best Scotland teams in years. If you look at the traditional spine of the first choice side, made up of say, Ford, Strauss, Laidlaw, Russell and Hogg (and I'll throw Jonny Gray in there just cause he's brilliant), you have to believe we can be very 
competitive." - Simon Taylor, The Scotsman