Laidlaw: Relishing Wales game

Laidlaw will relish the opportunity to face rampaging Wales stars, including Lions centre Jamie Roberts, while also attempting to spark Scotland's profligate squad into life and across the try line.

Laidlaw won the first two of his three caps as a replacement scrum-half, before coming on in last Saturday's loss to England as fly-half for Dan Parks, who on Tuesday announced his retirement from international rugby.

Coming from Jed-Forest, where his uncle Roy Laidlaw and Gary Armstrong plied their trade, Laidlaw always thought he would be a Test scrum-half, but he is excited about wearing the number 10 jersey after being named at fly-half today.

The 26-year-old Edinburgh captain said: "Growing up all I wanted to do is make the people of Jed proud and carry on the tradition of half-backs.

"I thought it would be as a nine, if I'm really honest, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge of playing stand-off.

"It's not so much of a surprise now because I've been playing so much as a stand-off for Edinburgh and I feel as though I've been doing well."

Laidlaw has repeatedly changed half-back roles for Edinburgh this season and maintains he still wishes to be considered for both positions.

He said: "I've switched positions for Edinburgh, but I think if I can keep playing both positions and can manage that through my training, I believe I can cover both positions."

Laidlaw is ready for the cauldron of the closed roof in Cardiff and prepared to ignore the boos when he approaches the kicking tee.

He said: "I've kicked well for Edinburgh this year. As long as I hold my technique and keep my head down I'm pretty sure they'll go through the posts."

As for facing Roberts, Laidlaw has already done so this term and knows the size of the challenge.

He added: "I played against him in the Heineken Cup. He's a huge threat for them and hopefully I can close him down if he comes down my channel.

"I'm pretty sure he will come down there. As long as I get my head in there and get nice and low I'll be fine."

Laidlaw's opposite number is likely to be Rhys Priestland, who was Wales' playmaker en route to the Rugby World Cup semi-final.

"He's been fantastic for Wales, which is a country which prides itself on great stand-offs," Laidlaw added.

"He's got all the skills that a stand-off needs and I'm looking forward to playing against him on Sunday."

Indeed, Wales are blessed with talent throughout the team.

Laidlaw added: "It's a big challenge. They've got great players in their side and had a great win at the weekend.

"I also believe Scotland have got great players. I think it's now time for Scotland to put in a few big performances and hopefully I can be part of that."

The Edinburgh captain also joined the tributes to Parks.

"It's a sad time for Parksy," he said.

"He's a guy that's played fantastically well for Scotland over the years.

"He will certainly be sorely missed around the squad. I just wish him all the best going forward."

Scotland team: R Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); L Jones (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Scarlets), M Evans (Castres); G Laidlaw(Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (capt, Edinburgh), G Cross (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), J Hamilton (Gloucester), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Rennie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Edinburgh).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), E Kalman (Glasgow Warriors), A Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh), D Weir (Glasgow Warriors), S Hogg (Glasgow Warriors).