Gordon Simpson, the latest recruit to Scotland's growing regiment of Kilted Kiwis, is a man well aware that he has a great deal to prove to his comrades in arms as he pulls on a navy blue jersey for the first time today.

When Cammie Mather, flatmate, fellow New Zealand-born flanker and back-row colleague for this afternoon's meeting with Victoria can tease him about being a mercenary, then it is understandable he feels the onus on him to show true commitment to the cause.

''Cammie has obviously been here for a while,'' Simpson acknowledged. ''I'll feel a bit better after tomorrow's game especially if I perform and do well.

''There is still a bit of apprehension around and that's understandable when a guy gets dragged over from another country and comes straight in.

''I've got to prove myself on the field and gain their respect and I believe that I can do that. My heart and soul is in Scotland now. That's my main focus.''

Simpson, targeted and recruited by the SRU earlier this year, was always likely to have a harder time being accepted than the other three Kiwis in the squad and Mather explained: ''I think the rest look upon myself, Shaun Long-staff and Glenn Metcalfe as having done a sort of apprenticeship and the fact that we were over here when the game was amateur makes a difference. We came over here off our own bat.''

His friends may call Simpson 'Badger,' but even that has provided his new mates with an opportunity for some gentle taunting. He picked up the nickname because in his first senior game he was scrabbling around on the ground, in the manner of the traditional open-side flanker.

''The boys are starting to bring in ferret now, which gets up my nose a bit. It's starting to really bother me,'' said Simpson, blissfully unaware that some colleagues had added 'weasel' to the repertoire because he 'weaseled' his way on tour.

Simpson, however, having played at provincial level with North Harbour in New Zealand, knows a good slagging is better than being ignored. Clearly, though, he also appreciates that there may well be some underlying resentment at his rapid rise through the Scottish ranks, having played only a handful of matches for second division Kirkcaldy.

''I'm surprised at how quickly I've got into the senior squad,'' he admitted. ''I've only been in Scotland three months. But if you get your opportunity you have to take it. I plan to take mine tomorrow to prove myself worthy of selection and that it was the right one.''

Mather, meanwhile, dismisses the suggestion that any Antipo-dean rivalry would add motivation to today's match.

''There's no bigger incentive than playing for your country and if it's against Australians then so be it,'' he noted. ''This is Scots against Aussies, not New Zealanders against Aussies.''