Rugby: A passage to India is extra goal for Scots

The 25-year-old last appeared on this stage in 2007 when Scotland won all three pool games, including a notable victory over South Africa to seal qualification for the premier Cup competition on the Sunday.

Robertson said: "In Fiji, Wales and USA we have group opponents we know we can beat.

"We'll be looking to do really well and hopefully get to the final, which is something we haven't done before."

A pelvic injury put the son of ex-Grand Slam three-quarter Keith Robertson out of action for a lengthy spell soon after his previous Murrayfield tournament appearance.

But he has remembered what has to be done to progress.

"Playing in a Murrayfield sevens tournament was a great experience – especially in front of a crowd of around 20,000.

"If we can replicate what we did by winning all three pool ties in 2007 and then take that form on to the second day, who knows what can happen?"

The stakes are higher this time with the Scots still needing to convince the relevant authorities they are worthy of inclusion in the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October.

Robertson insists that is all the extra incentive required. He said: "We need to show we can be a top-eight team and, hopefully, we will put in that kind of performance.

"Playing in Delhi would be a personal goal and it might be the one occasion where sevens are given priority over Edinburgh and Scotland 15-a-side commitments."

The 15-a-side season started well for Robertson, who shared in an opening win at Cardiff and followed up with a try brace when Connacht were hammered 62-13 at Murrayfield. Although the team failed to maintain consistency all the way through and missed out on the Celtic League play-offs, Robertson's campaign ended on a high with another two tries in the concluding 28-37 defeat at Leinster.

"There was certainly dogged determination on display at the start and in the final fixture at Leinster which made it all the more frustrating," he said.

"If we'd played like that over the four game run-in to the league we'd probably have made the play-offs.

"But I was pleased with my own form towards the end of the 15-a-sides and our chances in the sevens must be helped by having a settled squad compared with last year."

The squad includes Edinburgh's players' player of the season, Roddy Grant, and Robertson added: "For me Roddy's nomination was an easy choice. He was our most consistent player and proved himself really tough, as he'll show again in the sevens."

Meanwhile, Scotland Sevens coach Steve Gemmell, fresh from calling up Edinburgh's Ben Cairns to replace injured Glasgow back Scott Forrest, who hands over the captaincy to Greig Laidlaw, has played down suggestions of extra pressure on his team due to having to satisfy Commonwealth entry criteria with a top eight ranking the minimum requirement.

Gemmell said: "It is a home tournament where we have traditionally done our best. The beauty of being at home is that there is a lot of things familiar to us.

"There is added interest but that's great. There should be pressure. It is something you can't hide away from.

"For me as a coach it is something I have never ducked away from. My position is that, when things go well the players should take the credit, and when they don't go so well the first person they look at is the coach.

"Other people will make judgements but, if we perform as we can, everything will take care of itself.

"It's no secret that, if we are going to go to the Commonwealth Games, we have to be competitive. Last year, we got a semi-final in London (during the preceding tournament) but we performed better in Edinburgh (quarter final).

"The players don't owe anybody from the Commonwealth Games Council or me anything.

"They owe it to themselves and that is what we will be focusing on," said Gemmell.

Skipper Laidlaw added: "The job is to do well this weekend and there is a lot of rugby between now and the Commonwealth Games albeit this tournament will count a lot for that.

"We want Scotland to play in the Commonwealth Games and if we can help that this weekend so much the better as it would be a great experience for whoever goes."