Strong stuff from Scotland.

Finn Russell stands up to a charge from opposite number Dan Biggar.

The Scotland forwards swarm around the breakdown and Justin Tipuric spills the untidy ball forward to give Scotland put-in to the scrum on half-way.

John Lacey is the man on brass.

He toots his whistle and Finn Russell's kick off is safely gathered by Wales. 

Scotland offside in their eagerness to put pressure on Dan Biggar. Penalty Wales and the visitors boot up to halfway.

Gavin Hastings
Former Scotland full-back on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I think both sides are capable of playing open, attacking rugby. I just hope that the weather doesn't intervene.

Warren Gatland, the head coach of the British and Irish Lions, is watching on from the stands at Murrayfield. 

Image source, Getty Images

A sizeable Welsh contingent help their boys with some decibels from the stands.

But now it is time for the rat-a-tat drum and the wail of the pipes.

A lump in Richie Gray's throats as the instruments die away to allow the 50,000 voices inside Murrayfield to carry Flower of Scotland to a conclusion.

Stirring stuff as ever.

Trackies off, game face on.

Kick-off next.

Image source, EPA

Rob Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

These are two sides who are looking to play good open rugby. 

We've seen from the games so far that they're positive in their approach play. Everything points towards this being another good game.

A penny for Norman Cook's royalty coffers as Right Here Right Now greets the teams onto the pitch.

Plenty of pyro as well and the sun even makes a cameo appearance.

Anthems to follow.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

Wales make just one change from the defeat by England, with George North replacing Alex Cuthbert on the wing.

Ross Moriarty stays at number eight, with Taulupe Faletau on the  bench .

Wales:  15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-George North, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Scott Williams, 11-Liam Williams, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Rhys Webb; 1-Rob Evans, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Tomas Francis, 4-Jake Ball, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Sam Warburton, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Ross Moriarty.

Replacements:  16-Scott Baldwin, 17-Nicky Smith, 18-Samson Lee, 19-Luke Charteris, 20-Taulupe Faletau, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-Sam Davies, 23-Jamie Roberts.

Image source, Rex Features

Scotland make five changes, with John Barclay leading the side after captain Greig Laidlaw was  ruled out  of the tournament.

Ali Price starts at nine, with prop Gordon Reid, wing Tim Visser, number eight Ryan Wilson and flanker John Hardie all brought in.

Scotland:  15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tim Visser, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Alistair Price; 1-Gordon Reid, 2-Fraser Brown, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-John Barclay, 7-John Hardie, 8-Ryan Wilson.

Replacements:  16-Ross Ford, 17-Allan Dell, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-Hamish Watson, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Mark Bennett.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland international on BBC One

"George North is a real threat and it comes from all distances, he can score from anywhere.

"His leg wasn't fit two weeks ago but it is today."

If George North scores today he will be the first player in history to score in six consecutive Six Nations matches.

Image source, Rex

How would the match against England a fortnight ago have ended up had George North been fit?

Would the Northampton wing have shown Elliot Daly the large slice of outside space that Alex Cuthbert served up?

Would North have been shrugged off so casually as Daly went in for the match's decisive score?

Or would Wales have found a way to fall short once again regardless?

North is back in the starting line-up at the expense of Cuthbert in the only change from Wales' defeat a fortnight ago.

So just what went on with that gimme of a conversion in Paris a fortnight ago?

After Tim Swinson had gone under the sticks for a try against France, Finn Russell made a dog's dinner of the simple conversion.

The man himself has been explaining in his BBC Sport column.

 "I rushed the kick and unfortunately as I ran up to strike the ball it fell off the tee. It cost us an easy two points, which was disappointing. It's a lesson learned - always make sure the ball is properly set up on the tee before taking the kick," Russell said.

BBC Sport's Andrew Cotter was offering a bit more of an explanation as to why Nathan Hines, having delivered the kicking tee to Hogg, was urging him to get the kick taken. 

Apparently France full-back Scott Spedding was trying to convince the referee to review a bit of shoulder-to-shoulder with Tommy Seymour.

England flanker Tom Wood - named among Eddie Jones' replacements for Sunday's meeting with Italy at Twickenham - tweets his support for Northampton Saints team-mates George North and Louis Picamoles... 

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC One

"Wales are trying to develop their game and change their style of play. Attacking wise they've had a lot of possession but the end result isn't as good as they would wish.

"Possession, territory and momentum are all going well but they have to score points.

"Scotland, however, are scoring more tries than they have over the past decade. That's where they've changed."

Image source, Rex Features

John Barclay has stepped up to the Scotland captaincy in the absence of the injured Greig Laidlaw.

Opposite him he will find eight of his Scarlets team-mates, having joined the west Wales region from Glasgow in 2013.

Wales hooker Ken Owens - and Barclay's Scarlets captain - says that Barclay is a born leader.

"He shouts enough at me when he's on the field anyway - he tells me what to do normally. I'm sure it'll be a little added motivation to be leading his country as well," said Owens.

Read more of what Barclay's Scarlets team-mates make of their friend-turned-foe for the afternoon.  

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Getty

There is no excuse for missing out on any of the action from Murrayfield today.

As well as live television coverage on BBC One, where Keith Wood will be the voice of reason between former Wales internationals Jonathan Davies and Martyn Williams and Scotland old boys Andy Nicol and Chris Paterson, there is radio coming at you every which way.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Scotland will all have the match as live as a fresh, flapping salmon.

Tune in to all the coverage at the top of this page.