The two sides currently propping up the Six Nations standings face off on Saturday afternoon when Italy travel to Murrayfield to take on Scotland.

Having both lost their opening two games of the championship, this could potentially be a wooden spoon decider in Edinburgh, although the hosts will be hoping that a win on their home turf, in front of what is expected to be a record-breaking crowd, could act as the spark to reignite their campaign.

Defeat against France in their first match would have hurt, but it was that crushing blow against Wales last time out which really dented Scottish hopes with a slender 23-26 home reverse.

Scotland have ended strongly in both of their games so far, albeit with no reward to show for their efforts, and scrum half Greig Laidlaw believes that could be the difference this weekend against a tiring Italian side.

If Vern Cotter's men are to pick up that elusive first win of the tournament, then they must do so without Finn Russell who saw his appeal against a two-week ban rejected earlier this week.

That means a place in the starting lineup for Glasgow Warriors teammate Peter Horne at number 10, who enters the fold as one of four changes from that defeat against Wales a fortnight ago.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has also opted to freshen things up with the introduction of six new faces, including two debutants for the Murrayfield showdown, but they will be without prop Martin Castrogiovanni who misses out having picked up a bizarre injury this week.

The Azzurri have so far suffered defeats at the hands of championship favourites Ireland and England, but this match provides them with their first real chance to get off the mark.

Brunel said in the build-up to this one that he is expecting a tight game, and if last year's meeting is anything to go by there is no reason to doubt him, with Scotland prevailing 21-20 12 months ago to pick up their third win in succession against the Italians.

Scotland:

Recent form: LLWLWL

Starting lineup: 5 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Peter Horne, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson

Italy:

Recent form: LLLLWL

Starting lineup: 5 Luke McLean, 14 Michele Visentin, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Biagi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero

Sports Mole says: 22-15