The Irish have won all but one of their last nine encounters against Scotland but their last two visits to Murrayfield – both in 2007 – have been challenging.

The first they edged 19-18, with then-coach Eddie O’Sullivan later claiming fly-half Ronan O’Gara had been choked, and the second they conceded 31-21 in a tune-up for their ill-fated World Cup campaign.

“We feel it’s important some fellows get a chance. The guys coming in bring their own chemistry to the team,” said Kidney.

“They also have a wealth of experience. When you play Scotland at Murrayfield you need every ounce of that.

“We have a huge match on Saturday in trying to get the better of Scotland.

“It’s been extraordinarily difficult for us on our last two visits to Edinburgh.”

Tomas O’Leary, Paddy Wallace, Jamie Heaslip and Jerry Flannery have dropped to the bench to make room for the arrivals and Kidney admits their demotion is harsh.

“We have four guys who have been training really well and done well in the Magners League matches they’ve played in,” he said.

“Some of them are coming back from injuries and when they’ve come on they’ve done a good job.

“There’s no problem in playing the four of them. The problem comes in who to leave out.

“They’ve done nothing wrong, it’s just when new guys come in someone has to lose out.

“We’ve been trying to build a squad over the last few weeks away from any attention. This is the first time it’s gone public.”

Kidney denies Ireland’s line-out, which has been functioning beautifully throughout the Six Nations, has been weakened by swapping Leamy for Heaslip.

“You need your whole back row to be viable options at the line-out. It might be for one line-out, it might be drawing a guy two or three times,” he said.

“A lot goes on at line-out time in terms of the throw and lift, it’s not just about the jumper.

“I’d like to think we have five or six options at the line-out.”