Phil Godman has a big role to play at Murrayfield © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Cross in for injured Ioane

Matches: Scotland 9 - 8 Australia

Players/Officials: John Barclay | Johnnie Beattie | Ryan Cross | Chris Cusiter | Robbie Deans | Rocky Elsom | Will Genia | Nathan Hines | Digby Ioane | Drew Mitchell | David Pocock | Andy Robinson | George Smith

Tournaments/Tours: Australia tour

Teams: Australia | Scotland

Australia's Grand Slam dream is in ruins following last weekend's draw with Ireland, but Robbie Deans' young side have already shown admirable composure by declaring their intention to finish their tour unbeaten.

The next stage comes this Saturday at Murrayfield, where Andy Robinson is looking for his first major scalp as Scotland boss. They were clinical if uninspiring in defeating Fiji last weekend and will need to find an attacking spark if they are to trouble the Wallabies.

In recent seasons the Scots have been blunt going forward with their reliance on Chris Paterson's boot becoming all-consuming. Robinson has opted for bulk over finesse with his backs selections. Paterson has been benched in favour of the Lamont brothers and Simon Danielli in the back-three and the battering ram of Graeme Morrison in the centre.

What impact this will have against the Wallabies remains to be seen and with the electric Thom Evans relegated to the Scotland 'A' setup there is some pressure on the players selected to prove their attacking worth.

Australia have made only a single change for the game, with veteran openside George Smith replacing a battered and bruised David Pocock in the back-row. The Wallabies' difficult season should not hinder them this weekend and the quality available to Deans will leave him confident of heading to the Millennium Stadium next weekend with their unbeaten record intact.

Will Genia's tussle with Scotland skipper Chris Cusiter will be interesting, although it is the duo's halfback partners who will likely have a big say in the outcome. Phil Godman's task is to get in behind Australia and attempt to create space - Scotland can't afford to play the whole game in front of the opponents' defence. His opposite number, Matt Giteau, is one of the world's best at this and punished Ireland on several occasions last weekend with sniping breaks.

In the centre Australia had originally named a partnership that was maturing nicely, but Quade Cooper is now paired with Ryan Cross following an untimely shoulder injury to Digby Ioane.

Scotland lock Nathan Hines, a native of Wagga Wagga, won't want for any motivation against his countrymen. His scrap with James Horwill will be bruising viewing and should he get the better of his man then Scotland will have some vital go-forward in the tight exchanges. Johnnie Beattie and John Barclay will also have to make their presence felt, with Barclay maturing nicely ahead of his meeting with one of the game's masters in Smith.

Scotland's co-captain Mike Blair has withdrawn from the game with an ankle injury, giving Gloucester's Rory Lawson the opportunity to add to his 15 caps.

Scotland: Rory Lamont (Toulon); Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster); Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies); Peter Hynes, (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross, (Western Force), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs); Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, capt), George Smith (Brumbies), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), Richard Brown (Western Force), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs), James O'Connor (Western Force)

Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wal), Jerom Garces (Fra)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (Eng)