Team Scotland chef de mission Jon Doig tipped new national heroes to emerge over the next fortnight as he expressed confidence that the Commonwealth Games host nation can beat their record medals tally.

Scotland have set a target of beating the 33-medal haul they achieved when the Games were held in Edinburgh in 1986.

Only 27 countries took part in that event as opposed to the 71 that have sent teams to Glasgow and Scotland need to improve on their Delhi showing of 26.

But Doig expects some previously unfancied athletes to grab the limelight and supplement the hopes of major medal prospects such as swimmer Michael Jamieson and athlete Eilidh Child.

"We see people becoming household names every Games," Doig said. "There are people on everyone's watch list but there are also those surprise athletes who have been quietly confident preparing and they come forward.

"I'm thinking like (gymnast) Steve Frew in 2006. He had been to a number of Games but he nailed that gold medal at that particular time."

On the record bid, Doig added: "We're confident. We have the best-prepared team that I have been involved in.

"The athletes are very well focused. They are relaxing in the village, they are getting used to the surroundings. They are familiar with a lot of the venues. So we are confident that target is achievable.

"The home advantage is something we have obviously talked through and (the 2012 Olympics in) London has given us some great pointers in how we can use that home advantage to our best.

"The athletes are looking to feed off the crowd but they know when to shut off. In the village, they can shut off from the outside world.

"But when they get on to the track, the pool, the stadiums, everyone is willing them on and I'm sure that will lift them to new heights and help them do things even they probably didn't think possible."

Doig's optimism is not just based on the impact of a home support. He has seen the medal prospects of a number of athletes and the depth in a number of sports increased by years of hard work and new initiatives behind the scenes.

"The medal support through the sportscotland Institute of Sport has been working well," he said.

"We have had only three replacements since the team selections. That's unprecedented.

"A major part is getting athletes to the starting line. They are all pushing their bodies to the utmost limit so to have that support structure there has been tremendous.

"We have worked closely with the governing bodies and sportscotland and have all been working towards the Commonwealth Games. There has been coaching expertise and areas of technology to support the athletes.

"We have also had programmes where we go out and find potential athletes and transferring athletes from those programmes."

The chance to see largely unrecognised sports and athletes getting their place on the big stage is the reward for such planning.

"The great thing is we have 17 sports, these are sports that are played in a wide range of communities across Scotland and they might not get that profile," Doig said.

"What it means is that those children who are playing those sports get to see their heroes performing on the world stage. It's an affirmation that their sport is important."