Metcalfe had feared he would miss the Murrayfield showdown, but he will go head to head with Wales as the Scots bid to keep their championship title hopes alive.

Coach Ian McGeechan has also added an injection of pace to the squad by recalling Glasgow Caley wing James Craig.

And with Gregor Townsend definitely out, he looks certain to stick with Duncan Hodge at stand-off rather than switch Chris Paterson from full-back and bring back Glenn Metcalfe.

A relieved Richard Metcalfe declared: ‘‘It was a very frustrating injury, both for me and the team.

‘‘Normally, the medics can put a dislocated finger back into its socket pretty quickly, but it took ages with me.

‘‘It is still sore, but I will be able to take contact and train with the ball early next week and there will be no problem with me playing as long as it is strapped up.’’

Metcalfe added: ‘‘We could and should have beaten France, but that is in the past now.

‘‘Everyone is focused on beating Wales and we believe we have the right players and attitude to do that.’’

His views were echoed by McGeechan, who said: ‘‘The game in Paris was there for the winning and we created plenty of chances.

‘‘There were lots of plusses to take forward to the Welsh match. In the first half we dominated a lot of the rugby and when you are in France you can never underestimate the effort and intelligence that takes.

‘‘The next challenge will be a completely different scenario. Until Sunday we thought about nothing except France.

‘‘From here on in we will think about nothing other than Wales and despite the fact they lost heavily to England, we still see them as one of the biggest threats in the championship.

‘‘England played some exceptionally good rugby at Cardiff, as they did in the series last season.

‘‘They have thrown down the gauntlet and it is up to the other nations to find a way to match them.’’

McGeechan revealed that Townsend and Metcalfe would spend the build-up with the squad, with the latter figuring in the A-Test a week today in the latest chapter of his rehab from injury.

On Townsend’s condition, the coach said: ‘‘His knee is improving every day.

The injury turned out to be just a bad wrench and thankfully there is no damage to the ligaments or cartilage.’’

Scotland squad: Backs A Bulloch, J Craig (both Glasgow Caley), D Hodge (Edinburgh Reivers), J Leslie (Northampton), K Logan (Wasps), J McLaren (Glasgow Caley), C Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), A Nicol (Glasgow Caley, capt), C Paterson (Edinburgh Reivers), B Redpath (Sale). Forwards G Bulloch (Glasgow Caley), S Grimes (Newcastle), M Leslie (Edinburgh Reivers), G McIlwham (Edinburgh Reivers), R Metcalfe (Edinburgh Reivers), S Murray (Saracens), J Petrie (Glasgow Caley), B Pountney (Northampton), R Russell (Saracens), T Smith (Brive), M Stewart (Northampton), J White (Glasgow Caley).