Jeremy Guscott's tactical view

By Jeremy Guscott
Former Bath, England and Lions centre

You can tell that this is really Andy Robinson's Scotland team.

With England he inherited a side which he didn't really change, so he ended up never formulating his own team.

People questioned his selections then, but I can see Andy Robinson's mark on this side and I'm excited by it.

He has gone for power and size in the backs with the aim of getting over the gainline and to ensure they continue in possession he's picked John Barclay, who is an open-side flanker out of the same mould as Robinson himself.

Barclay will be Scotland's key man. He has to get to the breakdown and free the ball up, which will allow scrum-half Chris Cusiter to get it away quickly and wang it on to fly-half Phil Godman.

John Barclay will be a key man for Scotland on Saturday

The Scots have selected a battering ram of a backline and Godman will use the likes of inside centre Graeme Morrison, and Sean Lamont and Simon Danielli coming off their wings, to carry up the middle.

You always know the Fijians are going to be physical and a little bit wild.

You think you have a grip on what they are going to do but then they will produce something unusual.

Their performances in the last World Cup were just spectacular and you know they will punish any loose ball - you've got to be almost error-free.

They hit you hard in the tackle, hoping to force you to spill the ball, and that frees up the game, letting them play the seven-a-side style they all prefer.

Kicking can be a risky thing to do against Fiji because to open up the game is to play in to their hands.

Any kicking has to be pin-point accurate - it almost has to go into touch, or you have to bang it high and chase well.

If Phil Godman kicks poorly then Fiji will punish Scotland

That means Godman sending up Garryowens with the big boys in the middle charging up on the Fijian full-back - from there you've got every chance of regaining possession and setting off again.

You definitely look to play a more set-piece game against Fiji, rather than a looser style, so Scotland will play it quite close to the forwards.

I don't think they'll be lacking ambition, I just think they'll be safe and will try and frustrate the Fijians by keeping it tight.

That's not to say you won't see quick ball produced, I just don't think it will be going down the line too often.

No matter what Scotland do, there are going to be moments in this game in which Fiji just cut them to pieces - it's inevitable given their running ability.

Their mindset is to run it rather than kick, which they are not very good at, but Fiji cannot be under-estimated.

Their confidence will be high - they were runners-up behind the Junior All Blacks in the Pacific Nations Cup this summer - and they will still be on a high from the 2007 World Cup. This side can play.

Australians and New Zealanders have grown up playing against a lot of these players since school - they know they're going to get smashed, they know what to expect.

Fiji's pace and power, seen here against Wales, will test the hosts

Northern hemisphere players aren't used to it. Players run round not wanting to put their heads above the parapet for fear of them getting knocked off.

This Scotland side looks very complete and if you add in the trickery that backs coach Gregor Townsend will introduce, they won't just be route one - there could well be some very good moves.

Robinson could be judged on the absence of Glasgow winger Thom Evans.

If Danielli or Sean Lamont are put into space and they don't score, when Evans probably would have done with his extra pace, it could raise questions, but at this time he just doesn't fit into Robinson's plan.

Pace is something Fiji don't lack. They have a lovely flow to their game and from one to 15 they love passing and running - they are magnificent.

They love to take on players, and sometimes go through players, and you always get excited when Fiji come to town.

Jeremy Guscott was talking to BBC Sport's James Standley.

You can watch Scotland v Fiji live on BBC One and on the BBC Sport website from 1415 GMT on Saturday.