Chris Robshaw vowed England's young guns will be undaunted by the history and hostility of Murrayfield as they head into tomorrow's Calcutta Cup showdown with "a point to prove".
Robshaw, England's most inexperienced captain since Nigel Melville in 1984, leads a new-look side featuring three debutants with five more uncapped players primed to come off the bench.
Owen Farrell may have been fast-tracked into the England side but tomorrow's team includes several players who were repeatedly overlooked by Martin Johnson but are finally getting their chance.
Robshaw's omission from England's World Cup plans baffled some members of the squad while it has taken Phil Dowson, consistently one of the outstanding players in the Aviva Premiership, six years to graduate from the second-string Saxons.
Farrell's centre partner Brad Barritt knew Johnson did not rate him and admitted to being relieved when his England coaching regime collapsed following the World Cup.
Stuart Lancaster was given temporary charge and set about launching a new era for English rugby, which starts at Murrayfield tomorrow.
Form and a desire to play for the jersey were selection prerequisites. David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson and Mike Brown have all had their England careers reignited by the new regime.
And 25-year-old Robshaw is convinced the hunger that has burned inside all his players will stand them in good stead amid the "chaos" that Scotland coach Andy Robinson has said lies in store tomorrow.
"Playing at Murrayfield is never going to be easy but it is something we are looking forward to," said Robshaw, who will be making only his second Test appearance.
"The young guys want to go out there and prove a point. They have been doing it for their clubs for so long and now they want to go out there and show the nation what they can do.
"Being at Harlequins, you get to see Twickenham a lot and you always want to be over there playing in these kind of big games.
"To come up here in your first Six Nations appearance is special."
Dylan Hartley, one of England's more experienced players, relishes the smoke and bagpipes. Farrell expects to be smiling as he takes the field.
England may not have won at Murrayfield since 2004 but this team arrive to launch the defence of the Six Nations title with no baggage.
"Is it hostile? It's a great place to play. I think it's exciting more than anything," said assistant coach Andy Farrell.
"It is one of the theatres of world rugby. It is a dream to get your first cap, and to do it in a Calcutta Cup game here at Murrayfield, with such history, is extra special."
And the feeling on the eve of the game?
"It is not daunting, it is one of excitement if anything," said coach Farrell.
What remains uncertain is whether the lack of international experience will ultimately count against England in the heat of a Test match.
England's starting XV boasts a total of 236 international caps, including Tom Croft's three for the Lions, compared to Scotland's 501.
"If you go on experience then of course we will be the underdogs - but we feel we have a side that is picked on form," said Andy Farrell.
"We have got a lot of young guys in our side but guys who have been playing in massive matches of late. Chris is captain of a side at Harlequins that are