The Wallabies have not lost to Scotland in 15 matches, but have struggled in beating Italy, drawing Wales and being comprehensively beaten by Ireland on its November tour.

``We have got to the stage where I believe we are going into this game with a genuine opportunity to take a famous scalp in the buildup to the World Cup,'' Hadden said.

``I feel what we have done is narrow the gap which was developing between the Southern and Northern Hemisphere teams. We are a lot tougher to beat than we used to be.''

Scotland has beaten Romania and the Pacific Islanders in consecutive weeks, but Hadden knows that Australia will present a more difficult challenge.

``We probably don't have the capacity to play the way which Ireland play, so it will probably be a very different game this week,'' Hadden said.

Winger Lote Tuqiri said the Wallabies have to revert to playing their traditional expansive game.

``Of late, we have not been getting the ball out to the wide positions nearly enough, and that has led to all sorts of problems,'' he said. ``Our results on this tour have been disappointing and so have the performances.

``I think we have been too concerned about what the opposition teams might do, when we should have been concentrating more on what we can achieve if we play the right way.''

Australia coach John Connolly has still been happy with the team's progress despite the poor results.

``Success is measured in many ways and we've been able to determine a number of things on the tour, as well as giving 27 players an opportunity to play test rugby,'' Connolly said.

The weather in Edinburgh is expected to be similar to the cold, wet and windy conditions in Dublin last week.

``The conditions aren't an excuse,'' Connolly said. ``We played in difficult conditions against Ireland and simply didn't handle them as well as they did.''

The Wallabies will feature an inexperienced front row and another untried centers partnership. Scott Staniforth starts at inside centre, pushing captain Stirling Mortlock out one spot, and Tuqiri to the wing for his 50th cap.

Hooker Stephen Moore makes his first start for the Wallabies with first-year props Benn Robinson and Guy Shepherdson.

Lock Al Campbell also gets his first start and George Smith rotates in for Phil Waugh. David Lyons replaces Wycliff Palu at No. 8.

Scotland is giving Frank Callam his first start. He'll replace injured No. 8 Johnnie Beattie. Scrum half Chris Cusiter underwent shoulder surgery this week after he dislocated it against the Islanders, and Mike Blair will start in his place.

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Scotland

Chris Paterson (capt.), Sean Lamont, Marcus Di Rollo, Andrew Henderson, Simon Webster, Dan Parks, Mike Blair; Gavin Kerr, Dougie Hall, Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Scott Murray, Simon Taylor, Kelly Brown, David Callam.

Replacements: Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen, Alastair Kellock, Alasdair Strokosch, Rory Lawson, Phil Godman, Hugo Southwell.

Australia

Chris Latham, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (capt.), Scott Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Guy Shepherdson, Nathan Sharpe, Al Campbell, Rocky Elsom, George Smith, David Lyons.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, Phil Waugh, Wycliff Palu or Stephen Hoiles, Josh Valentine, Mat Rogers.