Scotland rugby coach Frank Hadden has rewarded Nick de Luca for his impromptu stint at full-back by adding him to his World Cup plans.
The Borders utility player had not been expected to figure in Hadden's preparations for the tournament.
However, a strong display as a substitute in last weekend's Barclays Churchill Cup defeat by Ireland A at Twickenham made all the difference.
Hadden explained: "I was not convinced about Nick until Saturday. He came on early in the game after Simon Danielli was injured and performed outstandingly in a position in which he had not played this season.
"You take note when someone is so impressive, and to do it at a place like Twickenham made it all the more admirable."
While de Luca - one of five uncapped players in the provisional training squad - was celebrating, there was disappointment for leading lights Phil Godman, Johnny Beattie and Donny Macfadyen, who were left out.
Hadden declared: "There was a great deal of discussion over the selection for every section of the squad, however we did spend longer talking about the back row and the back three.
"You have to make difficult and tough decisions, and in the case of Macfadyen the main factor behind his omission was that he has not had a lot of opportunities in the season just past.
"He played for the full 80 minutes only three times and that is not enough to show what a player is capable of.
"I have stuck to the adage which suggests that if you are in doubt, you stick with men who are showing consistent form."
As for Beattie, who was in the starting line-up for the final Six Nations match against France in Paris, Hadden added: "It was always going to be difficult for him to make the side.
"By playing him in all three Churchill Cup games we gave him every chance to force our hand - but the fact is that we have four other guys who can play at number eight."
Hadden was referring to Simon Taylor, Ally Hogg, David Callam and Kelly Brown.
The coach also revealed that Gordon Ross had jumped back in front of Godman in the fly-half pecking order.
He said: "Gordon never loses his awareness of how to control a team.
"It might seem as if I am contradicting what I said earlier in the year, but it was not a problem to me that he did not play a lot in France for Castres in recent months.
"We often need a number 10 who can make decisions on the hoof and in my experience, Gordon is always able to organise a side.
"I have not gone out of my way to see him in action this season as I am confident he always achieves what I expect."
Scotland training squad:
Backs:Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Rugby), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Nikki Walker (The Ospreys), Simon Webster (Edinburgh Rugby), Nick De Luca (Border Reivers), Rob Dewey (Edinburgh Rugby), Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Rugby), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Calum MacRae (Border Reivers), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Ross (Castres), Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers), Rory Lawson (Gloucester).
Forwards:Ross Ford (Border Reivers), Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby), Gavin Kerr (Border Reivers), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Craig Smith (Edinburgh Rugby), Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Scott Murray (Edinburgh Rugby), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Border Reivers), Dave Callam (Edinburgh Rugby), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby), Alasdair Strokosch (Edinburgh Rugby), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby), Jason White (Sale Sharks).
