They’ll have to push all 20 stone and 6 feet 9 inches of Richie Gray out of the St James’ Park tunnel if he’s to get the traditional honour of the 50th cap.
It’s customary for players reaching their half-century to run out of the tunnel first, followed after a suitable gap by the rest of their team-mates, but for Gray there’s a bigger milestone against Samoa and much more serious business to consider.
“I’m not particularly interested in that,” said the big lock. “If I’m forced to do it I will, but they’ll have to push me out of the tunnel. It’s the match and result I’m interested in.
“The reality is there a lots of things at the weekend more important that we’ve got to get through. There’s even a bigger milestone in the squad with Sean (Lamont) potentially getting to 100 caps.
“We won’t even consider it until we win the game, I know he’ll say the same thing. The focus is entirely on winning and not getting carried away about cap milestones or anything else.”
Gray did pay tribute to the veteran wing, who is set to become only the second Scot after Chris Paterson to run up a century of appearances for his country.
“It’s incredible, he’s in a very small handful of players of any country who will have done that,” he said. “It’s some achievement, the way he’s stuck in, his competitive nature has allowed him to be as good as he is.
“He’s an incredible athlete, a great guy, and a lot of the squad look up to him and ask his advice.”
Head coach Vern Cotter pointed out that Lamont’s first cap had been against Samoa in 2004.
“If he gets on the paddock it will be a big moment for him, his family and everyone who has been involved with him,” he said.
“He has been working hard to make sure he has a good one of he gets on. It will be a great achievement if he gets out there, and I think Richie has his 50th test as well. Those are things around the game that we are aware of but we are focusing on what we would like to construct and build.
Captain Greig Laidlaw said that Lamont was role model within the squad.
“Sean is great for all the young guys, he sets an example, whether that be in the gym, fitness sessions or whatever. He has never given up.
“He has been written off before in his career and all that hard work has paid off. He has got 99 caps, all of which he has earned, and if he gets on for Samoa he will have earned that as well. All things being well he’ll get on, and it’ll be a credit to himself.”