SEAN Lamont, the Glasgow Warriors back, will be drafted into the Scotland squad for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match today if Duncan Taylor is ruled out by a back injury. Taylor, who has been named on the bench for the game against England, was only able to start running in training yesterday - otherwise he would have been a strong contender for the starting line-up.

“Duncan has a back injury and he’s been rehabbing – but there are positive signs that he could come through and play a part,” head coach Vern Cotter said yesterday after naming a team that includes John Barclay in the back row and Mark Bennett at centre. “He can cover two positions from the bench. A final call will be made after a night’s rest.

“Sean Lamont will come in if Duncan doesn’t make it. Duncan ran for the first time today - that’s why we had him on the bench. He’s still got to be confirmed for tomorrow as well. So there’s still a question mark on him: he’s got to come through today’s training. But we’re very hopeful.”

Taylor is primarily a centre who can also cover wing. Lamont is a winger who can slot in at centre.

While there is uncertainty about the final composition of the squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship match, Cotter has been able to select a very stable starting line-up, which shows only two changes from the one that began Scotland’s last game, the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia four months ago. Barclay’s return at No 6 in place of Blair Cowan is the only alteration to the pack, and Matt Scott will play at centre alongside Bennett instead of Peter Horne, who is injured. Cowan will cover all three back-row positions from the bench.

“John’s been playing 8 for Scarlets,” Cotter said. “He has the skill set for that position. Slipping into 6 means that he becomes a link player, ball-carrier. He’s also able to take ball on the ground as well.

“He’s a smart player, with 40-odd caps. He’s a proud rugby player and since he’s been here he’s shown a lot of enthusiasm. Trying to get the jersey off his back will be fairly hard.

“Blair will bring his energy and can play all three positions as well. It means we cover most roles, and we keep energy and keep attacking them.”

There is only one uncapped player in the squad - Zander Fagerson, the Glasgow Warriors tighthead prop, who is one of the substitutes. Besides Horne, significant absentees through injury include another Glasgow centre, Alex Dunbar, as well as Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist and Warriors scrum-half Henry Pyrgos.

Scotland (v England at Murrayfield, Saturday, kick-off 4.50pm): S Hogg (Glasgow); S Maitland (London Irish), M Bennett (Glasgow), M Scott (Edinburgh), T Seymour; F Russell (both Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester); A Dickinson, R Ford, W Nel (all Edinburgh), R Gray (Castres), J Gray (Glasgow), J Barclay (Scarlets), J Hardie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Bath). Substitutes: S McInally (Edinburgh), G Reid, Z Fagerson, T Swinson (all Glasgow), B Cowan (London Irish), S Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), D Weir (Glasgow), D Taylor (Saracens).