Jamie Dobie hopes the confidence gained by the Glasgow Warriors contingent in the Scotland squad has an impact on the national team ahead of a "massive" autumn campaign.
Dobie is one of 19 Warriors who linked up with the Scotland squad earlier this week having helped Glasgow to a bonus point win over the Stormers in Stellenbosch at the weekend.
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Now the 23-year-old is preparing to face Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday.
Reflecting on the Warriors’ start to the new season, he said: “I think the Glasgow group have been really positive at the start of the season that we've had, especially with the win that we've just come off the back against Stormers.
“So that just brings massive confidence from that group and hopefully it can breathe throughout the squad, so everyone's feeling really good.”
Dobie has had to be patient for international opportunities since making his debut three years ago today against Tonga.
His second cap came in last year’s Rugby World Cup warm-up against Italy, while he added a further four to his tally by featuring in every game of the summer tour.
With Ben White, George Horne and Ali Price all in the squad, plus Gus Warr, Ben Afshar and Edinburgh co-captain Ben Vellacott not included, a big showing in the Autumn Nations Series could help him cement his place in the Scotland set-up long term.
“I think it's a massive campaign and season,” he said.
“I ended up being involved in all four matches there so I think that was massive for me personally and then I think the start of the season with Glasgow has been relatively positive so I'm happy with where my rugby's at and the direction it's going.
“I think, hopefully, this is going to be a big few weeks to really cement a place in the squad and hopefully be involved in as many of the matches as possible.”
Price’s mid-season move along the M8 to Edinburgh meant Dobie became an integral part of Franco Smith’s title-winning Glasgow side last season, featuring in all the knockout matches from the bench.
While acknowledging Price’s move played a part in his own development, Dobie admitted to being more confident in his own game, whether at scrum-half or on the wing.
He added: “I think the confidence in my own game has developed massively.
“Also, with the way that the scrum-half situation at Glasgow was, there was lots of competition and Ali [Price] moved along the M8 to Edinburgh, that sort of opened up that spot so I suppose that's a contributing factor, there's no denying that.
“And being able to play both scrum-half and wing, I came on on the wing for all three play-off games at the back end of last season, so it was great to be involved in that and the summer tour, and then at the start of this season being involved in all the big games is what I want to be doing.
"Hopefully that can continue into this campaign as well.”
A sell-out 67,144 will pack into Murrayfield for Saturday’s game – which will present a new experience for the young scrum-half.
He continued: “You can see the amount of support that we've got – three games sold out and the Portugal games over 50,000 so hopefully on its way to selling out as well – so they're as big games as it comes, and I think it will be massive for me.
“Personally, if I can be involved, I've played a couple of times at Murrayfield before but never in front of a sold-out Murrayfield so that would be an honour and the prospect of that is massive for everyone.”
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Dobie also knows good showing against the Flying Fijians could propel him into contention for a place in the matchday 23 when the world champions South Africa visit next weekend.
Gregor Townsend may look to counter the Springboks’ 6/2 ‘bomb squad’ bench packed with forwards, with Dobie’s versatility a handy factor for the Scotland head coach to consider.
Dobie added: “I'm not sure what the plan will be for the South Africa game, but I suppose if I'm involved this week it's an opportunity to stick the hand up to play next week.”
“We've only got a couple of days training before this first game, and then if I'm involved at the weekend being able to take some confidence from that and play my own game, and then I suppose next week’s selection will take care of itself.”
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