Andy Robinson has insisted inside knowledge alone would not be enough for Scotland to beat his native England in Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.
This weekend sees Robinson pit his wits against the country of his birth - and the team he both played for and coached - for the first time.
The 45-year-old, sacked by England in 2006 after winning just nine of his 22 games in charge, will be reunited with several of his former charges on Saturday.
But while he has no qualms about imparting the knowledge he has of their strengths and weaknesses to his adopted nation, he warned it is up to his own players to exploit any advantage that might bring.
"I can communicate about the (England) players but it's still about going out there and delivering," Robinson said.
"There are a number of very good players who play for England.
"They have a very good forward pack, they're very good at attacking through Danny Care.
"They have got pace, so they are a dangerous team. But if you get in their faces and you stop them from playing, you ask real questions of them."
Robinson, who helped coach England to World Cup glory in 2003, has been asked countless questions about where his loyalties lie since his appointment as Scotland boss last summer.
He has also been quizzed a number of times about whether beating England would mean more to him - for good or for ill.
Asked yet again about the significance of this weekend's match, the first Englishman to coach Scotland replied: "It's just another game.
"There is a buzz in the air but I've felt that for every game."
Robinson today made just one personnel change from the side beaten in Italy 10 days ago, which left Scotland firm favourites for the wooden spoon.
Edinburgh's Nick De Luca was handed his first start since November 2008, with the 26-year-old recalled at outside centre.
Max Evans was moved to wing, with Simon Danielli dropping to the bench.
Although Evans is technically playing out of position, both his Test tries have come when he has been fielded at wing.
"I felt that we just needed to free Max up a bit for him to be able to attack their weak and poorer defenders," said Robinson.
Robinson admitted De Luca's selection was as much about stopping England playing as about providing a different attacking option.
"Nick is probably one of our best defenders and will get stuck into England and put them under some pressure, and stop their 12 and 13," Robinson said.
"Also, he's a very good ball-carrier."
Robinson refused to be drawn on whether there would have been more changes but for injury, with Mike Blair, Alasdair Strokosch and Alasdair Dickinson added to the crocked list today.
England and Scotland have both failed to set the tournament alight in their three matches so far but the former sit on two wins and the latter none.
Robinson insisted the only difference between the sides so far was "ruthlessness", adding: "You don't get points for how you play, you get points for winning games."
Not for the first time in Six Nations history, Scotland are looking for a victory over England to maintain realistic hope of avoiding the wooden spoon.
However, they have won the last two Murrayfield meetings with the Auld Enemy and Robinson believes the key to completing a hat-trick is simple.
"It's taking the opportunities that we create and stopping England scoring," he said.
"The last two games that have been won here at Murrayfield, England haven't scored a try.
"It's going to be vital that we stop England getting any sort of momentum."
Robinson knows all too well the scrutiny that comes with the England job, so is not surprised opposite number Martin Johnson has come under fire despite two Six Nations wins from three.
"I they had had three out of three, Martin Johnson would have been criticised," he said.
"I can remember working with (former England coach) Clive Woodward and Clive was always criticised for what he was doing."
However, asked if World Cup-winning captain Johnson showed coaching potential when he was a player, Robinson would only say: "He understands the game very well from the second-row position."
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