Scotland captain Mike Blair has called for the Murrayfield roar to help Scotland to victory in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy.

Blair declared: “A loud, vociferous crowd helps the Scottish team to perform.” Tickets for the match are still available and can be bought on this site until 8pm on Friday.

The scrum-half is acutely aware of the clamour from supporters for victory after the disappointment of defeats in the opening two games – against Wales and France.  But also cautions that the Italians will prove formidable opponents.

“Italy made the Irish look like an average team for the first half (of their game) and that’s something we have to be really wary of.  You have to grind them (the Italians) down.  You have to have a lot of patience,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Italy have made four changes, plus a further positional switch to their team for Saturday’s match.

Andrea Marcato replaces the suspended Andrea Masi at full-back; Mirco Bergamasco swaps from centre to wing; Gonzalo Garcia comes in at inside centre; Leonardo Ghiraldini recovers from injury to win the hooker berth instead of Fabio Ongaro; and Marco Bortolami is back at lock rather than Tomasso Reato.

Italy team: Andrea Marcato; Mirco Bergamasco, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Matteo Partichetti; Luke McLean, Paul Griffen; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Santiago Dellape, Marco Bortolami, Alessandro Zanni, Sergio Parisse captain, Mauro Bergamasco.

Subs: Fabio Ongaro, Carlos Nieto, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Josh Sole, Pablo Canovosio, Andrea Bacchetti, Guilio Rubini.