Frank Hadden was appointed Scotland coach in September 2005
Frank Hadden hopes to lure more of Scotland's top players home to boost their 2011 World Cup hopes.
A third of Hadden's 33-man Six Nations squad play outside of Scotland, but Chris Cusiter will return from France next season after signing for Glasgow.
"We have taken steps to try to get more of the players back to Scotland," said Hadden. "Chris Cusiter is coming back, and we hope to be able to add to that.
"It is something we've got to try to do if we want to improve our preparation."
Wales, Ireland and now England, after a new agreement between the Guinness Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union, are able to rest players this weekend ahead of the opening round of RBS Six Nations fixtures.
But while the Scottish Rugby Union has control over the playing and conditioning schedules of Edinburgh and Glasgow players, Hadden faces an anxious weekend over other members of his squad.
Scrum-half Cusiter and lock Nathan Hines are required by Perpignan this weekend for a Top 14 match at the Stade de France against Stade Francais, who will have Simon Taylor in their pack.
Gloucester trio Rory Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson and Alasdair Strokosch are required by Gloucester for their Guinness Premiership match against London Irish on Saturday.
And Sean Lamont, Euan Murray and Scott Gray are needed by Northampton for their Premiership visit to Harlequins on Saturday. Jason White, meanwhile, is in Sale's squad for their game at Worcester.
We want to make the most of the potential of the good crop of players we've got at the moment
Scotland coach Frank Hadden
Hadden says Cusiter's return is a boost to Scotland's development for the 2011 World Cup and hopes more stars come home.
"It would not only enhance our two professional teams but give us an opportunity to continue preparing throughout the weekends instead of a significant number of our squad having to play club matches.
"Obviously, we want to make the most of the potential of the good crop of players we've got at the moment.
"The introduction of professional rugby has not necessarily been kind to the countries with smaller resources and we've had to fight really hard to keep touch with the big boys of world rugby.
"Certainly, it gives me a lot of pleasure that in some ways we've narrowed the gap.
"The important thing is to become more competitive in all the key areas of your game - scrummage, line-out, contact area, defence, kicking, line-breaking and quality of decision-making - and I am satisfied we have made progress."
The Scots have the ideal opportunity to demonstrate that progress in their Six Nations opener with reigning Grand Slam champions favourites Wales at Murrayfield on Sunday, 8 February.
And the coach believes Glasgow and Edinburgh's recent Heineken Cup victories over French opposition - over Toulouse and Castres respectively - gives Scottish rugby belief of genuine improvement.
"Getting off to a fast start is obviously important in a competition of this nature," added Hadden.
"You need a bit of momentum but I think the competition could be so tight this year that losing the first game might not make it insurmountable.
"It is really important that both Edinburgh and Glasgow won in France this season.
"There is no doubt that winning is the most important ingredient for the development of confidence and self-belief that you need for international rugby.
"We've got more depth in the squad and more competition for places, and we've every right not to be frightened of going to places like Stade de France and Twickenham.
"This time last year, we were sitting on 12 to 15 injuries going into this competition - and for a country of our resources that was always going to be a tough ask.
"We've got about five or six injuries at the moment and I think with the depth we've got that is quite manageable, so that is cause for optimism."
Scotland squad:
Backs: Chris Paterson, Hugo Southwell (both Edinburgh), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Thom Evans (Glasgow), Sean Lamont (Northampton), Simon Webster (Edinburgh), Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca (both Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson, Dan Parks (both Glasgow), Mike Blair (capt), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Rory Lawson (Gloucester).
Forwards: Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Dougie Hall (Glasgow), Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton (both Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow), John Barclay, Kelly Brown (both Glasgow), Scott Gray (Northampton), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais), Jason White (Sale Sharks).
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