Setting aside the controversy raging over Steven Shingler's selection, Andy Robinson's claim that every member of the squad he named yesterday is a contender for this season's Six Nations Championship opener against England was lent added credibility by his decision to restrict it to 36 players.

Advance indications had been that he might list anything between 35 and 40 in what is effectively a development group that will gather at St Andrews later this month. By leaning towards the lower end of that range, he has ensured that even the least experienced of a group that includes six uncapped players – among whom Stuart Hogg could become the first Scottish teenager since the attack coach, Gregor Townsend, to be capped – must believe they are being considered.

Had he selected more it would have suggested that some were being involved more for experience than to challenge for starting places. That point was reinforced as Robinson admitted that others, among them Glasgow Warriors' Chris Fusaro, Pat McArthur, Tom Ryder, Jon Welsh and Ryan Grant, as well as Edinburgh's Roddy Grant, Grant Gilchrist, Matt Scott and Stuart McInally, have made strong cases this season.

"I didn't see them in contention to play against England," he explained. "Depending on our performances and their consistency they will come into consideration and for the A game they also come into consideration, but this was about selecting a squad to focus on the first two games."

With all of those who attended last year's World Cup and remain available for selection having been chosen, there is a temptation to conclude that, in some cases, players with reputations based on past performance have been preferred to those currently out-performing them.

However, the coach noted that the requirements of the national team management can be different than those of club coaches, citing as an example the decision to include Dougie Hall ahead of Pat McArthur, who has been keeping him out of the Glasgow Warriors starting XV.

"For me, Dougie Hall's setpiece work at scrum and lineout is going to be a key part of playing against England which is why he's been selected ahead of Pat McArthur," said Robinson. "Pat is a young player who is developing and playing really well. He's got another couple of months to keep putting in those performances."

For all that tried-and-tested players will have major roles it is, however, natural that attention will be paid to whether those brought in can make a difference after the failure to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Most intriguing among them is, of course, Shingler, who may or may not be qualified to represent Scotland, England and Wales and, perversely, plays his club rugby for London Irish. From a rugby perspective it is quite right that the head coach could not care less about any controversy arising from the 20-year-old having previously represented Wales against Scotland at under-20 level, just as Thom Evans did for England before switching allegiance five years ago.

However he would not have been so keen to bring him in if he did not believe he can be of use and Robinson made it clear that he sees Shingler as having the capacity to add an extra dimension to Scotland's midfield.

"He's played centre and fly-half and has had some really consistent performances," he said. "We've been selecting Graeme Morrison and Sean Lamont in the centre but we've got to look at different types of centre playing. To have someone who has a kicking game and is able to distribute the ball playing at 12 means we can play in a slightly different way. That's why he's been brought in.

"I see him as a 12 currently, but he's had a number of games at 10 for London Irish where he's working with a great teacher in Mike Catt [England World Cup winner], while developing a relationship with Joe Ansbro, who has been playing very well."

Fraser McKenzie, who left Scotland to join Sale Sharks last year, is the other uncapped Exile included in the squad and, like Dave Denton – his former Edinburgh team-mate who won his first cap in a World Cup warm-up match but did not make the 30 to go to New Zealand – is a powerful ball carrier who can gain hard yards for his side.

Rob Harley's exceptional work- rate has been rewarded, as has the pawkiness of fellow Warrior Duncan Weir, who seems the most assured homegrown playmaker to have emerged since Craig Chalmers in the 80s, while club-mate Hogg and Edinburgh's Lee Jones, cut fairly slight figures but are elusive runners.