Scotland will thrive on the underdog tag as they chase an unlikely first Test rugby defeat of the All Blacks in Edinburgh on Monday.

It may be the enthusiasm of youth, but 22-year-old centre Matt Scott is confident heading into his first Test at Murrayfield and the 29th meeting between Scotland and New Zealand.

“It’s not going to come easy. We’re going to have to play the game of our lives, but we’ve got nothing to lose,” Scott told the Press Association.

“It’s never been done before by a Scottish team and that’s a major motivation for us, knowing that we’ve got a chance to make history. We’re in quite a good place.

“We’ll be going in as underdogs, but Scottish teams in the past have enjoyed that label.”

Scotland won all three of the Tests Scott has started – in Australia, Fiji and Samoa in June – and he is ready to challenge himself against the world’s best.

The All Blacks line-up includes players Scott has grown up idolising in captain Richie McCaw, five-eighth Dan Carter and centre Ma’a Nonu, who is to start on the bench.

“It’s quite a strange feeling. I’ve experienced it a few times before, playing Australia and guys in the Rabo League, like (Irish great) Brian O’Driscoll; as a centre he’s one of my idols.

“It’s an odd sensation, but you’ve got to remember you’re playing a game of rugby and it’s a physical sport so you’re not going to give them any easy paths through. You’ve got to do your job.”

Some of Scotland’s most famous wins in recent times have come in teeming rain, for example, in Australia in 2009 and in June, as well as against then world champions South Africa in 2010.

Scott, though, does not believe a wet afternoon would particularly favour Scotland on this occasion as the All Blacks boast a quality forward pack world class No.10 in Carter.