SCOTLAND’s improvement over the past year or so has been obvious: they offer a more potent threat in attack, and now have greater depth to their squad than for some time. But needless to say, such improvement does not come in isolation. An indication of just how much better they have got over the past year or so should come today, when they meet Georgia at Rugby Park.

Vern Cotter’s side are favourites to win the game in Kilmarnock and thus end the Autumn Test series on a winning note following their victory over Argentina and defeat by Australia. If they combine the best elements of those two matches they could even win this game comfortably. But what they cannot afford to do is underestimate the threat of the Georgians.

The teams have previously met only once, in a pool game at the 2011 World Cup, when Scotland won 15-6 with all their points coming from the boot of Dan Parks. According to Nathan Hines, who played in that game and is now one of Scotland’s assistant coaches, there was more than a touch of good fortune about that result -- and perhaps also more than a touch of complacency. That latter failing is one the home team cannot afford to indulge in today against opponents who, while still priding themselves on their strength up front, present a considerably more complex challenge than they did five years ago.

“There’s more to Georgia than there used to be,” Hines said yesterday. “They can do more things now.

“They’re more skilful, they can play different types of game, they can expand on their game a bit more now. It’s always good to have that base of having the strength in their forwards to work off.

“If you can count on your scrum and your lineout then you can disrupt other teams. You can then take time to develop other parts of your game.

“We didn’t score a try in that [2011] game, and we were quite lucky if I’m being truthful. We didn’t give them as much respect as they deserved. We need to respect the team and where they’ve come from.

“People who don’t respect them, do so at their peril - they’re a very good team. They’re certainly better now than they were back then. They’re not one dimensional; they understand the game a bit more.

“They’re not shy at collisions. They put pressure on a lot of teams’ attack. So we’ll have our work cut out - if we don’t slow down their ball we’ll have to work twice as hard to get any momentum.”

While not neglecting the increased threat from Georgia’s backs, Scotland’s main aim in the bid to get the upper hand will be to nullify the visitors’ pack. There will be two aspects to their attempt to do so: one, play a high-tempo game on the artificial surface in order to move the ball away from the Georgians’ heavy brigade; and two, fight fire with fire by disrupting the possession they do get.

The latter will above all be a task for the back row. In No 6 Rob Harley and No 8 Ryan Wilson, Cotter has selected the most abrasive combination possible: two men who have an almost masochistic relish for back-breaking close-quarters combat. Had the injured John Hardie been available at openside, the Scotland back row would have been even stronger defensively, but as it is, the more attack-minded Hamish Watson arguably brings better balance.

In the front row, Ross Ford returns as hooker to add his 101 caps worth of experience, while in the second row Richie and Jonny Gray resume their partnership after the elder brother was ruled out of the Argentina game because of injury. The pair were outstanding against the Wallabies, albeit in defeat, and Hines, who played at lock himself, clearly sees them as the ideal combination.

“In their own right they’re outstanding rugby players, but together they have an understanding. They understand each other and can talk to each other more than if it was just another team-mate. It’s a good partnership and we’re lucky to have them.”

Hines himself has forged a good partnership with Cotter, one that will continue at French club Montpellier next season when the pair’s time with Scotland comes to an end. “I’m excited,” he said when asked about the impending move. “Scotland is a small place when it comes to positions for coaching, so I was happy that there was something there for me if there wasn’t something of the same position here. It will be good to get back and get my hands dirty a little more often.

“I loved playing for Scotland. I love doing this job. Like when I was playing, I think I’ll appreciate it more [ie coaching Scotland] when I’ve stopped.”

Today’s match is likely to be just the kind of contest that Hines the player appreciated most - one in which the players are right at the limit of their endurance. A few members of the Georgian side have been known to become over-heated when the going gets tough, but Hines expects a fair fight.

“I don’t think it will be nasty: I think it will be fiercely contested, brutal at times. These guys are renowned for being very abrasive forwards. They’re very competitive and they’re a proud nation. I played with a couple of them in France and I’ve got a lot of respect for them - they work very hard for each other. We expect them to be a team that will come at you.”