6 Scotland Six Nations must picks as players face anxious wait ahead of Gregor Townsend's big reveal

The countdown to the Six Nations begins in earnest on Tuesday when Gregor Townsend announces his Scotland squad at a Murrayfield press conference.

The Scots made a blistering start to last season's tournament by beating England at Twickenham in a famous win. That was followed up with victory over the Welsh at Murrayfield before the wheels started to come off with a loss to France, then a heavy defeat to eventual champions Ireland, meaning a final day triumph over italy counted for little.

Townsend could name more than 40 players in his training group, and there may well be some more ins and outs before the campaign kicks off in Cardiff on February 3 But there is a core of players whose places in the team are all but guaranteed, and whose performances could be absolutely crucial as Scotland try to win the Championship for the first time since the final Five Nations back in 1999. Here, Record Sport picks out the six the most vital members of the squad to look out for:

If Russell is on top of his game, Scotland have a chance in any match. And the good news is that the ex-Glasgow and Racing 92 stand-off has been in inspired form since joining English side Bath at the start of the season. He is best known as a creative playmaker, but he is also rock-hard in defence - as he showed at the weekend with a crunching tackle on his old Racing team-mate Cameron Woki. It is not that long since Townsend claimed Russell was not playing well enough to be in the squad at all. Now the 31-year-old is the first name on the team sheet.

The Edinburgh winger is just about the smallest and lightest member of the squad - but he punches well above his weight in defence and attack. He is brilliant under the high ball, as he showed against