Stuart Hogg: Set to face All Blacks

The 20-year-old Glasgow Warriors full-back was invited to train with the team which went on to become world champions on their most recent trip to Edinburgh, which included a 49-3 defeat of Scotland in November 2010.

"It was ridiculous," Hogg said. "I just remember rocking up in the morning and seeing the likes of Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Richie McCaw...it was unbelievable. It was great to have the experience of training with them.

"I had to take a backward step and pinch myself thinking 'Am I really here?"'

The experience was a memorable one for Hogg, who recognises he can no longer idolise players who are now his opponents.

"I will not be taking a backward step this time round," he said. "It's going to be a tough ask for us to go out and win but we'll do all we can.

"We're underdogs, with them being world champions, but maybe we can have that on our side."

Hogg was one of the few bright sparks in a miserable 2011-12 season for Scotland which featured a pool stage exit from the World Cup and the wooden spoon in the Six Nations, but finished on a high with wins in Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

He is seeking to improve on his maiden international campaign and has been working hard on his game.

Hogg, who made his debut aged 19 during the 2012 Six Nations, has added six kilograms in bulk to his frame while retaining his renowned speed.

He added: "I've been looking at the likes of Israel Dagg and (Ireland's) Rob Kearney and looking at what they do, adding little bits of their game to my game."

Dagg's ability is summed up on the All Blacks website in his profile, which reads: "Able to score from anywhere on the park, Dagg has an unerring eye for the tryline and all the speed to get there."

Hogg knows Scotland need to be wary of the Crusaders ace, who scored five tries in the World Cup, but hopes to cause his opposite number a few problems too.

Hogg added: "His evasion skills are second to none. He's got a good long kicking game and he's always there and thereabouts with ball in hand.

"I'll have to keep an eye on him, but hopefully he'll have to keep an eye on me as well."

For Hogg to get the upper hand on Dagg and Scotland's backs to thrive, their pack must have forward momentum.

Key will be the performance of Ryan Grant, Hogg's Glasgow team-mate who has a 100% record from three internationals.

Grant could be the Scotland player who has the toughest job on Sunday as he makes his home debut.

A propping crisis, with injuries and Euan Murray unavailable on Sundays, means Grant will start at loosehead and may have to switch to tighthead if Geoff Cross tires during the second half.

Grant has been packing down at tighthead in training for Glasgow and Scotland and is confident of performing there if required.

"We've got five capped front-row players unavailable," Grant said. "It's going to be a tough day at the office, but I'm just going to go out there and play the way I have been all season.

"If needs must then I'll move across and I'll deal with that when it comes.

"I've slotted in a few times there for Glasgow and I have played it for three years at Edinburgh, so I'm no stranger to the position. We'll see what happens."

Grant, at 27 and with appearances for all three of Scotland's pro teams to his name, including the now defunct Borders side, is not a fresh-faced youth.

Indeed, while his team-mates enter 'Movember', growing moustaches to raise awareness for prostate cancer, Grant is modelling a long beard first grown after a bet with Warriors team-mate John Barclay.

"The bet's over now and I seem to be the only one that still has a beard," Grant said. "I might keep it for a little bit longer; three months of growth, I'm not just going to give it up."