Scotland's bowlers will be hoping that all their hard work, particularly over the last two years, will bring them just rewards when their 10 medal opportunites unfold on the Kelvingrove green over the next nine days.

Not for the first time, the powers that be have left players and spectators mystified about yet another change to the format of the Games play from that of the traditional game, but the one good thing this time round is that each individual in the five-strong mainstream team will be allowed two bites at gold since they will line up in either singles and fours or pairs and triples.

This time the format reverts to a specific number of ends for each discipline rather than the sets format that was played in Delhi four years ago, where the Scots - a team often considered safe money bankers to boost the medal tally - failed to make a deposit.

Eight of that 12-strong Delhi line up will be have the opportunity to make amends in Glasgow. With a glittering array of world and Commonwealth titles between them, Paul Foster, Darren Burnett, Neil Speirs, David Peacock and Alex Marshall - who has won 19 titles alone - are joined in the team by Margaret Letham, Caroline Brown, Claire Johnston, Lorraine Malloy, alongside newcomer Lauren Baillie.

Four sessions will be played each day, with the men kicking off with the pairs and triples today followed by the singles and fours on Sunday. The women's challenge will commence with singles and fours, followed by pairs and triples. The Scots go in as the top seeds in the men's pairs and triples and also the women's fours.

Spearheading the Scottish campaign in the opening match against India this morning will be Peacock, Speirs and Burnett, while Johnston, Malloy, Baillie and Letham meet the Cook Islands.

"Initially you've just got to focus on getting out of the section, but I'm quietly confident," said Burnett, who lost in the bronze singles play-off in Malaysia and then again in Manchester, and came fourth in the pairs in Delhi with Speirs. "Who wouldn't, want to be playing in these events, in your own country, inspired by this venue and in front of your own people."

By mid-morning all eyes will be on the world indoor, outdoor and 2006 Commonwealth champions Marshall and Foster as they meet Zambia, while world champion of champions singles champion Caroline Brown faces a tough opener against talented Guernsey bowler Lucy Beere. All have a bye this afternoon except Brown, who will face another hefty challenge from Caroline Taylor from Wales in the session tonight.

The women's singles will hold the most interest and is a minefield of talent. Brown also faces a strong challenge in her group from Delhi bronze-medallist Kelsey Cottrell from Australia, as well as Taylor and Beere.

There is also pressure on David Heddle, Ivan Prior and John Robertson who will be out to retain the parasport open triples title they won in Manchester in 2002. They get their show on the road on Monday, with their potential tilt at the title coming on Thursday.

However, weekly practice on the Kelvingrove greens will have given the Scots the edge and they look certain to come through in the singles, triples and the fours.

Foster and Marshall have been installed as favourites to win gold but both are aware that they cannot afford any slip up over the next nine days, not least with defending champions South Africa and New Zealand in their section.

"I've put in more time for this event that I've done for anything else," said Foster. "In fact we have all put in a rake of practice for this cause. Alex and I know the pressure is on us, but that's what we thrive on. We have confidence in each other."