Read Gareth Thomas' column Wales team details

"People claim it's nice to be underdog, but that means you are not winning many games," the number eight told the BBC.

"We have to learn to deal with being backed and keep improving. Do that and we'll be favourites for every game."

Owen, 24, was given the captaincy after Gareth Thomas broke his thumb in Paris in the win over France a fortnight ago.

He will become the 122nd Wales captain when he leads his side out on the fourth leg of their Grand Slam quest in the Scottish capital.

"It's just a massive honour and it hasn't really sunk in yet," said the Dragons forward.

"What happened to Gareth was unfortunate, we'll really miss him as a player and a leader and I can only try to emulate him.

"But captaining this team is the easiest thing in the world at the moment. There are five or six leaders on the field and they will all help out, as they did in Paris."

Despite his confidence in his team, Owen sees plenty of danger in a Scotland side whose chances have been dismissed by most pundits.

It's certainly more relaxed in camp under Mike Michael Owen on Mike Ruddock's year as coach

"People haven't given them credit in this tournament," he said. "But they should have won in Paris and they gave Ireland massive problems for 20 minutes.

"They got the win they needed against Italy, so maybe now the shackles can come off and they will play with confidence.

"They have a new coach and that can be tough. It takes time to bed in new ideas, they are on the same road we have been travelling.

"Scotland have a tremendous scrum, ruck and line-out, but we look forward to rising to their challenge and causing some problems with our pack.

"Our line-out has been criticised, but it's basically sound. There have just been a few individual mistakes, we need to nail the set piece down.

"If we can do that we have so many exciting game-breakers behind, it's great to play with them."

Owen was also keen to praise Mike Ruddock, who has appointed him captain at the end of a memorable year since the coach was the shock appointment to take the Wales helm from Steve Hansen.

"Mike has been great for the team," said Owen. "He obviously benefited from the work of the people who went before, but he's brought in his own new ideas.

"It's certainly more relaxed in camp under him. Everything's going well and we're just trying to keep improving, it's a fantastic team to be a part of."