Cross can expect a packed Murrayfield stadium for this weekend's Six Nations opener with Wales © Getty Images

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Matches: Scotland 13 - 26 Wales

Players/Officials: Frank Hadden | Geoff Cross

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations | Six Nations Under-20's

Teams: Scotland

Scotland new boy Geoff Cross is determined to make them most of his opportunity when he packs down against Wales in his side's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Edinburgh prop Cross was yesterday selected to start by coach Frank Hadden after star tight-head Euan Murray was ruled out with a rib injury. Murray has made the number three jersey his own in the last two years and has been hotly tipped to do the same on this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

Cross, meanwhile, is a Test novice and only gave rugby his full attention last season after qualifying as a doctor. The 26-year-old's rise since has been nothing short of meteoric and he insists there is more to come.

"This is an opportunity for me to show what I can contribute to the team's performance and I've just got to knuckle down and take that opportunity, and let everyone else judge and decide."

Revealing he had dreamt of this moment since earning his first under-16 call-up, Cross said, "It's just another opportunity to improve, another challenge, another level of pressure to go up against - and I'm not finished yet."

Cross spent his early career fitting rugby in around his studies and he has no regrets about his decision to do so, despite reaping the benefits of going full-time. "I looked at different times as to when to leave medicine and I thought that the thing to do would be to have a degree in your back pocket and then focus on the rugby," said Cross, who plans to use his degree when his playing career ends.

Neither was he tempted to forge a career as a doctor and forgo rugby altogether. "It was something I wanted to keep plugging away at because I thought, 'You can do this, you're good enough, keep at it and you'll get there'. I think that rugby's a meritocracy, it's a merit-based system. And if the people in charge of selection see that you haven't got merit, I'm sure they'll let you know."

Cross will certainly not have any trouble remembering the names of his own front-row colleagues, having played with them at Edinburgh all season. Indeed there are no fewer than 10 players from the capital club in the starting XV and Cross believes this will help him get through his debut.

"It's a fantastic challenge I'm looking to rise to but there are some familiar elements. There are guys from the pro-team in the Scotland team; there are guys I play against."

Murrayfield is also the home of Edinburgh, although Cross is used to playing in front of a near-empty stadium. "I think it will be a mite fuller!" he said of Sunday's game.

"I'll be really excited running out to a packed Murrayfield, my home ground, against the Six Nations champions. But there's a job I have to do. We've been given specific jobs by (forwards coach) Mike Brewer and that's something that I'm looking to do well and that's going to be my focus."

Cross revealed he had spoken to Murray since the team announcement and had been taking tips from the 28-year-old Northampton forward. "I'm sure when he's back, we'll be thumping each other in the scrummages again."

Murray's injury is such that Cross may get at least two chances to shine, with Scotland travelling to France just over a week from now.