AL KELLOCK has vowed to use Scotland's three-game tour of Australasia to re-establish his Glasgow partnership at lock with Richie Gray.
The Warriors skipper failed to start any of Scotland's five fixtures in a disastrous RBS Six Nations campaign that saw Andy Robinson's men finish with the dreaded wooden spoon.
But Gloucester's Jim Hamilton has been left kicking his heels at home due to a seven-week ban handed out by a three-man Rugby Football Union panel following his brawl with London Irish hooker David Paice, on May 5, in an Aviva Premiership game.
Now Kellock is keen to use the three-test tour Down Under to reclaim a dark blue starting shirt.
The 30-year-old said: "On a personal note this is a huge tour for me.
"Obviously Jim has copped the ban and that means there is a chance for me to re-establish myself at lock.
"I love playing for Scotland and take great pride in pulling the dark blue jersey over my head. My target is to get in the first test against Australia next Tuesday and try and stay in and get as much game time as possible.
"There is no point in denying how frustrating it was not getting a start in the Six Nations but that is international rugby at the highest level.
"I feel like I put that disappointment behind me and worked hard to have as good a tail end to the season as possible.
"I believe that my form has been consistent coming into the tour and that I have played in a lot of big games in the PRO12 with plenty riding on them.
"That is certainly the case with the three tests we have over here with the Wallabies then Fiji and Samoa.
"The target is to train as well as I can and do everything possible to earn a start against the Aussies."
It would seem certain that head Robinson is likely to field his strongest starting 15 for the opener and that will mean that Gray will be wearing the No.4 shirt.
With the blonde giant moving on to English Premiership outfit Sale Sharks next season Kellock is keen to team up with his Warriors second row team-mate for a farewell tour.
He said: "It would be great to team up with big Richie again. We have developed a really good understanding at Glasgow over the years which will come to an end with Richie's move to Sale.
"I think it is vital that we get off to the best possible start that we can and we are going to really have to take it to the Aussies.
"At the top level results are everything. In the Six Nations we played well against England but didn't get the win and that put us on the back foot. We have to learn from that to get off to the best start we can."