De Luca: Injury scare for Scots

The centre, who had an outstanding game in Fiji, became a late worry when he failed to finish the final training session before the game at Apia Park, Samoa.

"There is a slight injury concern about him," said Andy Robinson, the head coach, after the session. "He has a slightly strained thigh but we will wait until morning before making a decision.

"Joe Ansbro will come in if he is not fit."

There are no other worries, meaning that flanker Al Strokosch and prop Euan Murray, who had been concerns earlier in the week after injuring a calf muscle and knee respectively, both came through without any further alarm and will take their places in the team as scheduled.

In fact, Robinson pronounced himself satisfied with the final rehearsal before the big game, with Scotland shooting for a clean sweep of their Southern Hemisphere tour against a formidable looking Samoa side who have recalled all their big guns from leading European clubs for the occasion.

"I was pleased, I have seen the leadership really improve on the tour," the Scotland coach said. "There is clarity in the way they are trying to play and a great attitude, which is what you want going into a Test match.

"I just go Test by Test and I look forward to this one as much as I have looked forward to every one of this year.

"The key for us is to get ourselves into a winning position and then finish the team off. In the World Cup we got into winning positions and did not do that; at the start of the Six Nations, it was the same.

"This trip we have got ourselves into winning positions and have been able to finish the teams off. We need to do that again."