SCOTLAND lock Jim Hamilton will be on familiar territory in Saturday's Six Nations opener against England.

It may be his debut at this level, and against the Auld Enemy - but the giant lock has played in front of 60,000 fans at Twickenham before.

Hamilton, 24, contested the Premiership Final with Leicester last May, against Sale.

And that home-from-home' feeling continues with up to four of his Tigers' team-mates set to feature against the Scots, including his best mate, Louis Deacon.

"I expect a few Leicester boys to be involved. I play with these boys week in and week out so I don't feel I have anything to fear," said Hamilton, who qualifies for Scotland through his Glasgow-born father.

"They are going to have to change line-out codes, because I know a lot of their line-out moves are the same as at Leicester."

Standing 6ft 8ins and weighing 19 stone, Hamilton is no shrinking violet. And he says he is looking forward to putting his considerable frame to good use against England's huge pack.

"They are going to be really physical and try to dominate us up front. I think they've gone for the biggest team possible but that suits us fine - we like to play quick rugby and we'll try to move them around a bit. It should be interesting," he said.

"I've not been picked to sprint down the wing or to kick drop-goals. I'm there to impose my size. It's going to be the biggest game of my life, I just can't wait."

England coach Brian Ashton, under fire from some quarters for rushing Jonny Wilkinson back into Test rugby after more than three years out, has said selecting the No.10 was only logical'.

He said: "I've been his mentor this season. I have seen him play four games, and every game he has played better than the last.

"He is a much better player now than in the 2003 World Cup Final. His understanding and his intelligence is at a higher level. It is a logical selection for where English rugby is at the moment."

Having played for Leicester against Newcastle just last Saturday, Hamilton has had a chance to view England's returning hero Jonny Wilkinson first hand.

And he was impressed with what he saw. "He looked very sharp," said Hamilton.

SCOTLAND: H Southwell; S Lamont, M di Rollo, A Henderson, C Paterson; D Parks, C Cusiter; G Kerr, D Hall, E Murray; J Hamilton, A Kellock, S Taylor, D Callam, K Brown.

Substitutes: R Ford, S Murray, A Hogg, A Jacobsen, R Lawson, R Dewey, R Lamont.