DAN PARKS is relishing more than ever the prospect of running out at Murrayfield for tomorrow's Calcutta Cup clash with England – because it is an opportunity he thought he would never get.

The 33-year-old had been dislodged from the role of stand-off by the precocious talents of his successor in the Glasgow No.10 shirt, Ruaridh Jackson, for the final game of last year's World Cup, also against England, at Eden Park.

That had suggested Scotland head coach Andy Robinson was ushering in a new era with Jacko the man set to take ownership of the shirt and Parks cast in the role of exper-ienced back-up.

However, the creative Jackson finds himself sidelined through injury once again – just as he was late on in that agonising encounter in New Zealand – and Scotland will instead be left to depend the metronomic efficiency of Parks' boot.

Even so, with the likes of Edinburgh's Greig Laidlaw and Warriors ace Duncan Weir also snapping at his heels, and Phil Godman back in from the international wilderness, Parks knows that he may be operating on borrowed time.

Yet, he is determined to do all he can to guide the Scots to a winning start in the RBS Six Nations 2012 tournament – and they are under considerable pressure to deliver against the Auld Enemy.

He explained: "I would say that the competition at No.10 has never been as ferocious.

"Obviously Ruaridh is out with a hamstring injury, but when you look at how well Greig has done for Edinburgh and the way young Duncy has come in and covered for Ruaridh at Glasgow, then we have real talent in the position. On top of that, it is great to see Phil coming back into the Scotland fold. So, if all of that doesn't keep you on your toes, then nothing will.

"I am just absolutely relishing the opener with England. I don't think there is any doubt that because the opening match of the 2012 Six Nations is a Calacutta Cup game, there is extra significance attached to it.

"But it is at Murrayfield and it is vital we make the most of that and home advantage. The boys feel they have a point to prove after the loss to England at the Rugby World Cup and there would be no better place or time to make that point than now."

Parks will find himself engaged in a kicking duel with another comeback man at No.10, England stand-off Charlie Hodgson, and he has nothing but praise for his opposite number.

He said: "Obviously a lot has been made of the English side being youthful, and perhaps lacking a bit of experience, but there is no way you can say that about Charlie.

"If he hadn't been in competition with Jonny Wilkinson, he would have had a shed load of caps right now. Hodgson is playing as well as any stand-off out there. He is very creative and not scared to take a risk and I think that will fit in with the more expansive approach we are expecting from the English."

While Scotland will enjoy a huge advantage in terms of international nous, Parks remains wary of an England side he believes will play with no fear at Murrayfield tomorrow night.

He explained: "Obviously this is the start of a new era for England both in terms of their coach, with Stuart Lancaster replacing Martin Johnson, plus the level of change in England's starting XV, which I think has left just six players from the side that lost to France in the World Cup quarter-finals.

"So, while that is going to represent a bit of a trip into the unknown for us, it is vital we focus on doing what we have to do to the best of our ability.

"To open the Six Nations with a home win against the English would give us the type of start to the tournament we have not had in recent seasons. So this is a massive opportunity.

"We know that in the home games last season against Wales and Ireland we did not do ourselves justice or produce the performance the Scotland support deserved, but beating England tomorrow would go a long way to redressing that."