Underlining that this is as much a fresh start as a continuation of where Ireland left off last season before they were rudely interrupted, the Irish management have ultimately made six changes from the team which beat France last February to make it two wins out of two in the championship.

Just a little disconcertingly, it has to be said, the Munster contingent has been diluted from eight that day to just four next Saturday in Murrayfield. Compounding the omission of Mick Galwey and Alan Quinlan, Peter Stringer yesterday became the third Shannon player to lose his place when missing out to Guy Easterby in the starting line-up.

Stringer has been a regular since his debut in the pivotal win over Scotland a year and a half ago, only being rested for the defeat of the US in last year's summer tour.

Jeremy Davidson wins a tight call over Gary Longwell in place of Galwey, Simon Easterby returns in place of Quinlan while Kieron Dawson not unexpectedly wins the nod over David Wallace for the openside role.

In addition to the change at scrumhalf, Shane Horgan is picked ahead of Kevin Maggs to fill the inside centre void left by Rob Henderson's injury, while Denis Hickie switches wings to accommodate Geordan Murphy. As an aside, there are nine changes from the Lionsless Irish team which laboured to a win over Romania last June.

Stringer is arguably the unluckiest to miss out, even if he apparently struggled in the Bucharest game when Romanian spoiled effectively at the breakdown. He's rarely let his side down in his 11 tests, in which Ireland have only been beaten three times.

"It was a very difficult decision to make," Gatland said. "They're both very good scrumhalves, both have their attributes but just for this game we felt that Guy offers something around the fringes and being a bit more physical."

While Munster's rout of Cardiff last Saturday also provided a timely reminder that Stringer's service remains the zippiest and most attack-minded around, and his defensive workrate is second to none, it was viewed in the context of a front-foot, armchair ride for much of the afternoon. Stringer still needs to improve his offensive game, his boxkicking and his sniping, to reduce the load on his outhalf. But he'll be back.

Admitting that openside, inside centre and the number four jersey were also tight calls, Gatland said: "I think without a doubt it was the hardest squad we've had to pick initially and then again it was the hardest 15 we had to pick in a long time too. It's a nice position to be in, but the guys you're leaving out are not easy decisions."

This at least left the Irish management with what Gatland believes is a high-impact replacements' bench, and Ireland's reserves of strength will never be so tested as in the scheduled 13 matches over the next year.

Aside from tailoring the side's needs to meeting Scotland, while also having one eye on the future, it is primarily what Gatland describes as "a team picked on form".

That said, the Irish management have played down the provinces' initial dominance of the Celtic League in team meetings. Gatland yesterday stressed that the inaugural competition is a couple of rungs down the ladder from the interpros, Europe and then Test rugby. Murrayfield - where Ireland have lost eight times in a row - will be an altogether different cauldron.

"It's international rugby. It's a war of attrition really and for us it's about being mentally prepared as much as anything," said Gatland.

This is also a strikingly quick team, with the advent of Geordan Murphy further sharpening its cutting edge. Outside of Shane Horgan's potent straight running, Ireland have what must be its quickest "outside four" in some time - Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie, Murphy and a fitter, stronger and more confident Girvan Dempsey.

"But if we don't release quick ruck ball it doesn't matter what pace we have on the flanks," said assistant coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Thus the preference for Dawson (another in fine fettle after a summer's injury free pre-season in which he's lost half a stone) at openside ahead of David Wallace, who is just coming into form nicely and whose dynamic ball carrying strengths (a key factor in the win over France) are likely to be sprung from the bench.

Given this starting line-up has an average age of 26 and an average haul of 18 caps, it is also a nicely primed team, the nucleus of which should be even better primed come the World Cup in two years.