FRANK Hadden launched his international career with victory in Aberdeen more than three years ago and he sends his troops out on to the Pittodrie turf this afternoon for only the second time hoping a clinical performance and victory over Canada will unleash another, brighter new era for him and the national team.
In 2005, he had been asked to take charge of the side after Matt Williams was sacked and a 38-7 win over the Barbarians, a match that delighted the near-capacity crowd with five tries, closely followed by victory in Romania was enough to land him
the job full-time. It has been a rocky road more recently, the coach hanging on by his fingernails to the position after another dismal RBS Six Nations Championship, but now he not only has a team but is uncovering a style that suggests he is rediscovering how to get the best out of Scotland's leading players.
Looking ahead to his 36th Test in charge, Hadden said: "I'm more encouraged now because we have a more mature group of players who are growing in confidence at playing what's in front of them.
"What we've done is cut back the sequence and structured play that most teams adopt, and stripped it to the first phase, and then (asked the players to] react to the speed of the ball. It's something I've been trying to introduce for some time and we've gone for it big-style over the last month, and I think the players are just coming to terms with it.
"Some come from clubs where they're used to be told what blade of grass to stand on at each phase, so some take a little more adapting than others, but I think we have got a group of players who are capable of making these reads more accurately and effectively consistently than two years ago because they have matured."
It is a style that fits the current players, and enabled them to bring supporters to the edge of their seats again, though it is debatable whether Hadden knew this all along or only found it after stumbling through too-predictable wide patterns, direct approaches and kicking games. With Sean Lineen at his side, and Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman in the camp, he himself has perhaps rediscovered the confidence to be bold again that he wants his players to show.
Ultimately, it is up to them to take Scotland forward and, in some ways, they may be under greater pressure today than in the last fortnight.
Canada are struggling to find a regular blend of Test competition, and that was evident in their narrow win over Portugal and 55-0 loss to Ireland before an improved showing, but still 20-point defeat to a second-string Wales.
So, no-one expects Canada to win today. The bookmakers have Scotland at 100/1 on to beat the Canucks and, more than that, after the talk of the past two weeks, the players' belief that they could and perhaps should have toppled one or both of New Zealand and South Africa, and Hadden professing that preparation is everything, after nearly four weeks together Scotland expects something convincing.
Rory Lamont, Mike Blair and Allan Jacobsen are the only survivors in the starting line-up from that historic Pittodrie match in 2005 while Blair, Jacobsen and Simon Taylor are the only ones left from the defeat to Canada three years earlier.
The Scotland team has come on some distance since and now possess a forward pack with the talent to leave any side, including Canada this afternoon, scrambling for decent possession. Even after the replacing of Jason White, Chris Paterson, Thom Evans and Allister Hogg, with Alasdair Strokosch, Nikki Walker, Simon Webster and Simon Taylor, today's line-up is not noticeably weaker than that which came so close to beating the Springboks.
But there has been plenty talk of late of development, styles and points, on the scoreboard and to prove.
Canada have a proud tradition in world rugby, and credible history, and deserve support in the fight to keep in touch with the pace of the international rugby, but for this Scotland squad, and this head coach, it is time to start winning again.
SCOTLAND'S RECORD UNDER FRANK HADDEN35 Tests: 14 wins, 21 defeats (plus two Barbarians wins)
Wins: Romania (3), England (2), Italy (2), France, Wales, Ireland, Samoa, Pacific Islands, Portugal, Argentina.
Defeats: South Africa (4), Ireland (3), Argentina (2), New Zealand (2), France (2), Wales (2), Italy (2), England, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand.
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Scotland v Canada, BBC1 Scotland, 2.30pm
The teams run out at Pittodrie but are baffled when they are confronted by goalposts, nets and an 18-yard box.
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Phil Godman's woes continue as he completely misses the ball in his attempt to kick off the match.
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The north-east's big chill sets in with a vengeance, forcing both teams to don gloves and tights.
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Rory Lamont breaks through the Canadian defence but drops the ball in sight of the line when a seagull flies into his path.
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With the half-time score locked at 0-0, the crowd start booing and chanting 'Calderwood out'.
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