Toot! A short, sharp shrill of Jaco Peyper whistle, Kelly Haimona boots the ball into Scottish territory and the match is up and running. 

Image source, Rex Features

Hello! Aimee here, taking the baton from Neil in true tag team style. Have we high-fived? Perhaps. 

Sir Ian McGeechan has described Vern Cotter's side as the best Scottish team of the last decade, but when will the promise be fulfilled. Today? Let's find out. 

They might be on a terrible Six Nations run but Scotland can still belt out their national anthem in rousing fashion.

Time for me to hand over to colleague Aimee Lewis who will take you through the action in the Eternal City.

Take it away, Aimee.

Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland in Rome

Scotland 19 wins from 82 Six Nations since 2000. That shambolic run began against, gulp, Italy. David Denton's late withdrawal is a blow for  the visitors. His replacement Ryan Wilson has not been in good form and Wilson's replacement on the bench, Josh Strauss, played 76 minutes for Glasgow on Thursday night. Scots fans tense, it's fair to say.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter: "After a week off from the championship, we have returned to camp fresh and fit, and have prepared well for what will be another formidable opponent. 

"Italy have shown they are a talented team, particularly in their performance away against France, but also against England. 

"They surprised both teams with their physicality, intensity and quality, all of which we will have to be ready for, and at least equal to, if we are to win in Rome this weekend. 

"We have worked hard to improve our game and will stay true to the core values of this team, which is to work hard but stay calm; have belief in our systems, ourselves, and enjoy the opportunity."

Around 10 minutes to kick-off in our first game of the day. Can Scotland end their terrible Six Nations run?

What a huge day for 21-year-old Maro Itoje who is set to make his first England start. Former England international Jeremy Guscott says there is good reason to be excited by the Saracens player.

What we want to know is which debut has really excited you in the past? Also, Scotland fans...is this the day your country returns to winning way in the Six Nations?

Tweet #bbcsixnations, , externalpost a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or text 81111 (UK only).

Alastair Eykyn
BBC Sport

It is a sadly familiar Six Nations story. Two rounds in, Italy and Scotland are scrapping to avoid the Wooden Spoon. The Azzurri should have beaten the French, and fell away after an hour against England.

The Scots have been playing some good rugby without making it count on the scoreboard. The Calcutta Cup was tight, and they stretched Wales in Cardiff.

Tim Visser is back for Scotland on the wing while the Italians have Leonardo Ghiraldini returning, but are without their injured playmaker Carlo Canna.

This one's always tight, and both know it is their best chance to break their duck. Expect another nail-biter on the banks of the Tiber.

Image source, .

"It's probably a little bit early in round three to be handing out kitchenware. Scotland though have lost their last nine Six Nations matches while Italy have lost their last six home matches in the Six Nations."

Listen to BBC Sport's Sara Orchard in Rome, external

Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland

Nine straight [Six Nations] losses. Looked at coldly, it's a number to make you wince. Even when you put it in context, it still doesn't get a whole lot better, but it needs to be done.

Scotland lost six of those nine games by seven points or less. They lost eight of them against teams that few thought they would beat. The only game they lost that they were expected to win was Italy, at Murrayfield, last season.

That's where we're at. We beat them up for losing to teams that we expect to lose to. It's a crazy kind of logic borne out of frustration and angst.

Rome needs to be different. There can be no excuses, no nuances. Italy are not a better team than Scotland.

Read more from Tom on the BBC Sport website

Will Scotland by as stylish on the pitch as these two fans off it?

Italy have brought in Kelly Haimona to replace the injured Carlo Canna.

Full-back David Odiete returns from an ankle injury to replace Luke McLean and lock Joshua Furno comes in for George Biagi, who broke a rib against England.

Meanwhile, veteran hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini returns to the front row, for his first international game since suffering a hamstring injury at the World Cup.

Image source, .

Here's confirmation of that last-minute change to the Scotland team with David Denton failing to recover from a "mild groin injury". 

Ryan Wilson replaces Denton at Number 8, while Josh Strauss is promoted to the bench. 

Image source, .

Image source, BBC Sport

There's a heck of a noise outside Rome's Stadio Olimpico and I suspect these splendidly dressed chaps are partly responsible. 

You don't get this outside Sandy Park...

Unbeaten Wales recorded their fifth consecutive win over France on Friday to set-up a potential Six Nations title showdown with England at Twickenham on 12 March.  

Eddie Jones' side will return to the top of the table if they defeat Ireland later - a match you can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live with Chris Jones, Ian Robertson, Matt Dawson and Denis Hickie.

Image source, .

Before that BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will bring you full commentary on Italy against Scotland from 14:25 GMT. You can also listen this one on BBC Radio Scotland (MW).

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland are on their worst run of Six Nations defeats for over 60 years - a nine-game losing streak - and former national captain Andy Nicol says today's game might be the most important in the country's history.

"It's just unthinkable for Scotland to go 10 games in the Six Nations without winning," says Nicol. "That's why this is one of the biggest games ever."