Edinburgh: Scotland coach Vern Cotter has no qualms about pitting stand-in outside-half Peter Horne against Italy’s heavyweight Kelly Haimona in Saturday’s Murrayfield encounter between the Six Nations’ two win-less sides.

After Scotland’s failure to overturn the two-week ban that their first-choice number ten Finn Russell received for his disputed challenge on Dan Biggar in their 26-23 home defeat against Wales two weeks ago, Horne has been chosen to replace his Glasgow club-mate in the pivotal position.

At 92kg, 14st 6lb, Horne is not exactly a flyweight fly-half, but the 25-year-old — who has played most of his rugby as an inside-centre — will be up against a monster of an opposite number in the 113kg, 17st 13lb form of the New Zealand-born Haimona.

“Peter played well in his last two outings for Glasgow at first-five [outside-half] and he controlled the play,” said Cotter, who will be seeking his first Six Nations win following defeats against France and Wales. “He offers another profile and we are all backing him.

“This is a big year of rugby and it’s going to be an important game for Peter and for us. Without applying too much pressure on him, he knows that.”

Horne, who will be making his seventh appearance for his country but his first on home ground, insisted that he was undaunted by the prospect of facing Haimona, who made an impressive debut against Samoa in November — kicking 14 points in a 24-13 win — but whose form has been patchy in Italy’s Six Nations defeats at home to Ireland and away to England.

“Yeah, he’s a big fella,” said Horne, “but I think in the majority of my career I have never been a biggest guy, so it’s something I am used to.

“I will look forward to that physical battle and making sure I get stuck into him and not give him any gain line. We’ll see how it goes.”

Scotland — who also have Tommy Seymour back on the right wing, Euan Murray returning at tighthead prop and Tim Swinson replacing the injured Richie Gray at lock — are under pressure to produce a victory after pressing both France and Wales close.

The Scots are on a run of four successive home defeats in the Six Nations, their worst in the championship since 1977-79.

A fifth defeat would be their longest losing streak since the dark days of 1951-54, when they lost seven championship games in a row at Murrayfield.

Italy have not won in the Six Nations, home or away, since a 22-15 success against Ireland in Rome on the last day of the 2013 championship.