The Wallabies fear Scotland’s strongly All Blacks-influenced style could derail their grand slam tilt before major showdowns with Ireland and England.

Australia’s hopes of beating all four home nations were boosted by a polished opening victory over Wales and the tourists will start warm favourites against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT).

The five-tries-to-one win at Millennium Stadium was encouraging from an attacking point of view, with five-eighth Bernard Foley finding his best form in a year and fullback Israel Folau a constant danger despite his tryscoring drought extending to eight games.

But halfback Nick Phipps – who faces a challenge for the No.9 jersey from Will Genia, who flew in to join the squad in Edinburgh late on Sunday after fulfilling his commitments with French club Stade Francais – says the Wallabies are prepared for Scotland’s defusing tactics.

Scotland are coached by New Zealand’s Vern Cotter and have a distinctly All Black flavour in the way they attack games – a threat which should sound alarm bells for the Wallabies.

“It’s no lie that we like to play some expansive footy, we know they’re going to be coming at us in all areas of the game,” Phipps explained.

“They’ve got quite a Kiwi influence … they’re very defensive, very pressure-oriented around the breakdown especially.

“So it’s going to make life pretty tough for the 9 and 10 around that area.”

Halves partner Foley, noting last year’s last-gasp World Cup quarter-final win over the Bravehearts, agreed Scotland posed a serious threat to Australia’s aspirations.

“The Scottish are a side that we’ve had some close encounters with. You only have to look back at last year’s quarter-final (to see that),” he said.

“They’re a team that if you’re ill-disciplined and if you knock off at set piece, they’ll really hurt you.”

The raucous crowd in Edinburgh is also expected to be a factor.

“And especially at their home ground they’ll be super, so we’ve got a big week of work ahead and we just want to make sure we’re as well prepared as possible to deal with whatever is thrown at us,” Phipps said.

“It will be a great week and we’ll really enjoy the battle and the grind of the tour going into the second game of five and hopefully we’ll be able to come out on the right side of the ledger.”