When David Scott began playing, his dream was to represent Scotland in a Test match at Murrayfield.

However, as his contemporaries spend this week preparing to meet South Africa at the home of Scottish rugby, the youngster from Stirling will be preparing for a World Cup quarter-final in the sport's other code.

The 20-year-old had been a late addition to Steve McCormack's squad for the Rugby League World Cup. He was called up after James McManus, joint-leading try scorer in Australia's National Rugby League this season, was ruled out with a broken foot.

Scott made his first appearance of the tournament in the 22-8 win over the United States on Thursday, a result which maintained Scotland's unbeaten record at the competition and - following Tonga's victory over Italy yesterday - was enough to put them through to the quarter-finals. It was a source of national pride but also personal satisfaction since Scott was singled out for praise by Scotland's head coach afterwards.

"David came in having come through the Scotland pathway and got put under an enormous amount of pressure," acknowledged McCormack. "He was composed and came up with a lot of big plays."

He singled his player out because the coach knew the importance, in terms of seeking to promote the sport in Scotland, of a homegrown player having proven himself good enough to mix it with the Super League and NRL full-time players who have helped take the largely part-time Scottish side to a new level. Scott had acknowledged before the tournament that he knew he might not play but was just going to relish the chance to learn from the likes of Danny Brough and his fellow high-class playmaker Peter Wallace, from the NRL.

However, the former Easterhouse Panthers player, who played rugby union at both Stirling County and GHA before concentrating on rugby league, is a competitor and was desperate for his opportunity.

"I was really disappointed not to be picked for the Tonga and Italy games but fortunately Steve gave me a chance against the USA and I'd like to think I took that opportunity as best I could," said Scott. "The feeling just walking out of the hotel with the fans clapping us, having the piper there when we were coming off the bus, heading into the changing rooms, coming out for the warm-up and the fans going nuts . . . it was really emotional and it really gets you pumped up for the game.

"When you walk out the tunnel and get that feeling . . . all the hairs on your body are just standing on end and it's just amazing. Obviously playing at Murrayfield would be a bigger crowd, but this is just as good. You're representing your country and to do that is a massive honour, especially in a World Cup beside players like Danny Brough, Peter Wallace, Luke Douglas."

Scott is in no doubt about what he has helped achieve. "We've made history. Even if we hadn't made it to the quarter-final we would have made history by going through the pool unbeaten," he said. "We've been a really successful Scotland team already. The team spirit's been immense in camp, we've played really, really well and you can just feel the passion and pride when we're wearing those shirts."

Scott hopes that what he has done can now inspire other Scottish youngsters to get involved in what is still very much a minority sport north of the border. "I like to think I can be a trailblazer for others," he said. "There are players in Scotland who are just as good as me if not better but they just have to be found. It's a tough one because the game's small in Scotland, but if we can expand outside the north of England and into Scotland there would be some great talent to bring in and I'd love to see that happen.

"I'd like to think that me doing what I'm doing is going to inspire more people in Scotland to get involved with rugby league and more youngsters to come through the pathway. Hopefully the sport will grow. I mean, look at what we've achieved. It's amazing and if more people get involved we're only going to get better and better year on year."

Scott also believes that playing rugby league can also help aspiring players in the sport's other code. "I always played both and if people give league a go, the physicality and the speed of the game, the skill level, will make them better players regardless," said Scott. "Both codes you can learn something from. My preference is obviously league and I'd love to see more players giving it a shot and they would probably want to stick at it."

In the meantime, though, the Scots must prepare themselves for the biggest day of most, if not all, of their careers. Even Brough has said that he considers helping Scotland win this World Cup pool as being at least a match for anything else he has done in Super League.

The Scots' ambitions now turn to a quarter-final and Scott is certain that McCormack will prepare the side as well as anyone could. "We've had a really relaxed camp which has been good for us," he said. "Steve's been brilliant at working the training sessions - when we're tired giving us time off and when we're feeling good getting out there and giving it a really good go."