The SRU director of rugby is determined to concentrate minds back to on-field matters in the wake of the turmoil caused by the damaging resignations of Andy Irvine and John Jeffrey.

Telfer insisted that the damaging political strife of the past week "hasn't affected me at all, or the players".

Scotland will field a strong team with British Lions fly-half Gregor Townsend making a rare appearance at fullback.

Kenny Logan returns on the wing after injury and New Zealand-born flanker Martin Leslie joins his brother John in the side after coming off the bench against South Africa.

After a daunting double-header with defeats by the New Zealand Maoris and South Africa, Telfer believes a more relaxed Scotland will throw off the shackles for the visits of Portugal and, next weekend, Spain.

"Over the last three weeks we have put a lot of work in on the training field and in the two games we have played, but international rugby can be cruel," he said.

"There is only one victor.

"There is a fear factor that comes into international rugby - a fear of the unknown, a fear of defeat and of letting your country and your team-mates down.

"But I don't think there is the same pressure for this game as there has been the last two weeks.

"Hopefully we can take what we have done so far forward in a more relaxed atmosphere and show the Scottish rugby public what we can do."

Telfer admitted he does not expect large numbers to be there to witness it, however, and with only 10,000 tickets sold in midweek another sparse Murrayfield audience seems assured.

Scotland: 15-Gregor Townsend; 14-Kenny Logan, 13-Jamie Mayer, 12-John Leslie, 11-Cameron Murray; 10-Duncan Hodge, 9-Bryan Redpath; 8-Eric Peters, 7-Budge Pountney, 6-Martin Leslie, 5-Doddie Weir, 4-Scott Murray, 3-David Hilton, 2-Gordon Bulloch, 1-Tom Smith.