VERN Cotter’s 37-man squad for the Six Nations Championship is a solid, seasoned selection, with the only two uncapped members being experienced forwards in their mid-20s. But, while it is a strong grouping on paper, there are doubts over the fitness of some players for the start of the tournament, and concern about the availability later in the campaign of those who are listed as “not currently considered through injury”.

Edinburgh forwards Cornell du Preez, 25, and Simon Berghan, 26, are the two new boys. Du Preez, who was born in South Africa and qualifies on residency grounds, has been preferred to his back-row team-mate Magnus Bradbury, who made his debut in the autumn Tests. Berghan, born in New Zealand but eligible to play for Scotland through a grandfather from Stirling, could make his debut in the championship opener against Ireland if Willem Nel is ruled out by his persistent neck injury.

As things stand, Nel is in the squad, but his participation is expected to depend on the outcome of a medical assessment he was undergoing yesterday. Edinburgh openside John Hardie is also named in the 37, but he has yet to make his comeback from an injury sustained in November, so has to be a doubt for the Ireland match at Murrayfield on 4 February and the game in France eight days later.

Of those not fit at present, Edinburgh loosehead prop Alasdair Dickinson, who has a foot injury, looks closest to making a recovery. The others, David Denton, Pete Horne, Rory Hughes and Rory Sutherland, are at varying stages of their comebacks.

Cotter is confident that Allan Dell will continue to be a more than able replacement for Dickinson at loosehead, and, while Jon Welsh is also included, the coach looks like selecting Berghan as back-up to Zander Fagerson at No 3 if Nel does not make it. “He’s in there, the next cab off the rank, if WP doesn’t pass,” Cotter said.

“He’s a skilful player: probably lacks a bit of confidence and hasn’t shown the consistency, but he has got something. He’s skilful, gets around the paddock, is going to work on his scrummaging.

“I remember in my first year, when we went away to the States, he came and trained with us. We’ve been waiting for him to come through and this will be an opportunity. He can get some specialist coaching with Jon Humphreys and that will be good for him. We could very well need him.”

There is no guarantee that Du Preez will be given his chance in what is the most competitive part of the team along with centre, but he has already won one battle by being preferred to Bradbury. “He’s a more seasoned campaigner,” Cotter continued. “Things stop around him or go more quickly around him. We like that.

“Magnus is a great talent, but has finished games better than he’s started them and we want the intensity from the start. That’ll be something discussed with him.”

Back in the front row, Cotter has been impressed by Dell’s progress, but there is no doubt the coach would dearly love to have Dickinson’s experience to lean on, particularly if Nel is ruled out. “We’re happy with what Allan Dell did in autumn, and he’s followed that through with his Edinburgh games. We like what he’s doing. He’s a good rugby player and he’s holding the scrum up better as well.

“We’ll keep tabs on everybody. Things can happen very quickly on a rugby field and we may need to reach out.”

Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones are the centres retained from the autumn Tests, while Duncan Taylor returns from injury and Matt Scott is recalled after being omitted from that series.

“He’s been working on some of the defensive work he’s had to do, make better decision and stay in systems,” Cotter said of Scott.