It was the first time Paterson had been allowed a Test start in his favoured position despite making 38 previous appearances for his country.

And how he comes through the examination set by the Wallabies’ scavengers will probably determine whether he gets the role for good.

“We expect Chris to come under greater pressure than he did last week, purely because the Australian back-row is far better,” said McGeechan.

“They are bound to target him and it is up to our forwards to provide the platform which will allow him to play.”

McGeechan defended his decision not to give Paterson his chance until Scotland were entering the last-chance saloon, insisting that it was only after five months’ preparation the Borderer was ready to be unleashed.

“We have spent a long time trying to get Chris to the position he is at now,” said the former Lions chief.

“Last week he showed he has taken all that work on board – he played exactly the way we hoped he would.

“We didn’t want to put a straight-jacket on him. We want him playing with confidence so he doesn’t lose the flair.

“He hadn’t played stand-off for a considerable amount of time and we had to prepare him for the game in the best way we could.”

With skipper Bryan Redpath and number eight Simon Taylor both able to train today after recent toe and knee problems, McGeechan has made just one change from the side that defeated Fiji courtesy of Tom Smith’s 77th-minute try.

As expected, underperforming back-row Ross Beattie is replaced by new Sale signing Jason White, with Scott Murray recalled to the bench to give the Scots an extra line-out option, maximising their advantage in an area they believe Australia to be vulnerable.

“We have brought Jason in because we want a ball carrier in the back-row,” said McGeechan.

“He did well when he came on last week and he gives us the balance we are looking for.”

Though Scotland have been written off as virtual no-hopers on the back of a poor series of performances during the pool stage, including a 51-9 hammering by France, they have taken heart from Ireland’s battling performance against the Wallabies last weekend which should have sent the hosts spinning to defeat.

“With the exception of France, most teams have had a fright, which is good for the competition,” said McGeechan.

“There is probably a lot more to come from Australia but I would like to think there is more to come from us as well.

“All eight teams still involved are playing last-resort rugby now. The stakes have been raised for us all – lose and we are going home.”