By Steve Scott,rugby correspondent

Canada will face the wrath of a resolute and near full-strength Scotland, and particularly an angry and frustrated Alasdair Strok-osch when they arrive at Pittodrie for the final Bank of Scotland Corporate autumn test on Saturday.

Coach Frank Hadden has made five changes for the Scotland team’s second visit to Aberdeen in leaving out the injured Chris Paterson, Jason White and Thom Evans—all of whom might have played had selection been delayed until Friday—bringing back Simon Taylor, Simon Webster, Nikki Walker and Strokosch, while switching Rory Lamont to full-back.

For Strokosch, White’s absence through a neck injury and the impending birth of his first child is the end of a frustrating fortnight in which he was shunted back in the pecking order, despite arguably being Scotland’s best player in the first seven test matches of 2008.

“I don’t know if he’s actually an angry man, but I know he’s desperate,” said Hadden and Strokosch later agreed that it was both— although his attitude to his omission has been nothing but professional.

“Bit frustrated, little bit disappointed, and little bit angry,” he said. “Not having done anything wrong in a Scotland shirt this year, that’s where the anger comes from I suppose, but you keep it inside, you work harder.

“I’ve been playing well for Gloucester this year as well, but there’s no point in spitting out the dummy and kicking the toys out of the pram—getting angry is okay, but there’s no point in that or talking about it and not being able to back it up.”

Strokosch is well aware—even if he didn’t realise it before—that he can take nothing for granted.

“The competition for back row places is intense and there’s three guys for every position who can do a job to international standard,” he said.

“Even if you play to a consistently high standard, there are no guarantees, and that’s rugby.”

He continued, “I would have been suited to the New Zealand and South Africa games, but it’s not as if Jase (Jason White) doesn’t like a physical game either—it suited him as well as me.”

“I’ve done well in a Scotland shirt so far, but that’s all in the past and it’s up to me to put in the right sort of performance this weekend.

“There’s always something for every game to get you going, and for me being left out will be some fuel to use.”

Hadden admitted it was chance for Strokosch “to prove the selectors wrong” and stressed that leaving the pack’s front five and the midfield untouched was all about “growth and development” ahead of the Six Nations.

“We need the win for the world ranking—although that’s now out of our hands —but it’s the last chance before the Six Nations where we fully intend to make a real impact with the depth and the strength we’re developing,” said the coach.

“The front five have earned the right to stay together and grow together towards the Six Nations where we think they can really do some damage.”

The young midfield of Phil Godman, Nick De Luca and Ben Cairns are retained for similar reasons, although Hadden stressed he wanted a bigger show from them this week.

“It’s been tough because they’ve been up against the best midfield combinations in the world and acquitted themselves pretty well,” he said.

“However, what I expect now is that they kick on from that and continue to play consistently at this level, whatever the opposition.”

Godman will be the lead kicker in Paterson’s absence, and Hadden expects an improvement from both him and replacement Dan Parks after four missed penalties proved crucial against the Springboks.

“Phil actually had an 83% rate while kicking for Edinburgh this year and Dan is 67%,” said the coach.

“The fact that we have the best kicker in the world in Chris tends to overshadow the fact that the other two are usually pretty good as well.

“It’s an added pressure for Phil, but one we are sure he can cope with—and both know we expect a better performance this week.”

Taylor was always outlined to return at No. 8 when fully fit from his calf strain, while three of the backs for the 11-try demolition of Georgia on Friday night—Simon Webster, Nikki Walker and Thom Evans’ elder brother Max—are also drafted into the squad.

Although brought up in the Borders, Walker was born in Aberdeen, which partly makes up for the absence of his fellow Aberdonians and avid Dons fans—White and Chris Cusiter—who might have had the thrill of playing at Pittodrie were they not missing through injury.

Hadden added that the elder Evans’ inclusion had been “unavoidable” due his form for Glasgow and in the A match, and that Ally Hogg and Hugo Southwell—both of whom had excellent games on Saturday—had been “very unlucky” to miss out this week.

The coach has studied Canada in detail, and was impressed by the defence that held Wales at bay for long periods in Cardiff on Friday night.

“They’ve worked hard in that area, but Wales maybe underestimated them and tried to run everything in from distance,” he said.

“In contrast, Ireland did the basics against Canada, scored three early tries from kicks and cashed in from there.”