Kelly Brown is intent on leading by example as Scotland captain after wondering if his chance might have slipped by.

Nine months after first being asked to lead his country by head coach Andy Robinson, only to suffer a broken ankle, the 30-year-old Saracens back-rower has been confirmed as skipper for the EMC Autumn Test with New Zealand on November 11.

Brown was asked to succeed Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford in the role at a senior players' meeting with Robinson last Wednesday and he immediately accepted.

"It's a huge honour and one I'm really, really looking forward to," Brown said. "I was asked and then I got injured. I was aware it may not happen again.

"I just wanted to work as hard as I possibly could and it's a huge honour to be asked to captain the side again."

Now the indomitable blindside flanker or No.8 plans to show his team the way forward on the field.

When Brown wins his 50th cap at Murrayfield a week on Sunday, he will become the fifth Scotland captain in two years.

Robinson anticipates Brown will be the permanent skipper and it was evident Ford was merely minding the position when the back-rower was invited to sit with the coaching team during the 2012 RBS 6 Nations.

Robinson said: "He's probably learnt how tough it is to be a coach in that booth. Kelly Brown is a quality rugby player who epitomises the culture of Scottish rugby."