Scotland will keep on blooding new caps, while fighting for an RBS 6 Nations foothold, according to caretaker head coach Scott Johnson.
Johnson is adamant Scotland will keep on expanding their pool of top stars with international experience, but also urged caution.
"We'll always make sure they are equipped to do it physically: we don't want to go to a gunfight with a water pistol," said the Australian at Wednesday's championship launch event.
"We're not the finished article and we get that. What we need is a good base to pick from, and good mileage on the clock by the time we get to the World Cup. But we're setting up a team to compete in this tournament."
Confident that Scotland can stamp their authority on the Six Nations, Johnson challenged his side to heap "scoreboard pressure" on opponents.
"If we get good consistency then in parts of our game we can beat anyone on our day," he said. "If we're consistent we have a good chance.
"The game is split up into a 60-minute game and an 80-minute game. If we're into the competition at 60 minutes the scoreboard pressure suits us.
"If we keep being there and knocking on the door, the door will open. We're not far from a couple of big scalps here."
Scotland will kick off their Six Nations campaign by taking on Ireland in Dublin on Sunday, February 2.
Clermont coach Vern Cotter arrives in the summer to head up Scotland's management team.
Johnson will work under Cotter, and is encouraged by the continuity - a fact he feels others tend to disregard.
"I'm still here come the summer, people forget that," he said. "I'm here now and I'll still be here then.
"I had a choice of a position, and I chose to be part of this organisation moving forward. We've been talking with Vern and I'm looking forward to working with him more closely: it will be nice to have help arriving."
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