Six Nations exclusive: Scotland skipper Lisa Martin writes for Yahoo Sport

The Six Nations has always had that special feeling about it and being able to challenge yourself and compete to become one of the world’s best players is massive.

It’s the pinnacle of everyone’s season, with all the Scotland squad putting in the hard yards over pre-season and fitting in S&C around their daily commitments to leave them in the best physical and mental condition possible.

I have the utmost respect for all my team mates who have the honour to pull on the navy thistle with me this campaign.

The struggles and choices each of them has made in order to compete as an international athlete is something not many people can understand.

Using the majority of your annual leave and waking up at 4am to get to the gym or complete sprint sessions before a day at work is a choice that many outsiders see as a sacrifice but the squad just sees it as normal life.

Match weekend camps always start with everyone feeling a little on edge, those expected nerves in anticipation of the game combined with the early morning meet-up and lack of caffeine!

With the new caps in charge of the music and speakers it leads to quite a few opinions on song choice and the definition of ‘music’ in the changing rooms.

But the minute we all cross the whitewash and the first whistle of training is blown the only focus is England and what we will do as a squad and individually to impact the game.

To know that the coaching staff and players respect not only your playing capabilities and skills but your off field qualities is beyond humbling.

I’m living my childhood dream, but the bigger goal has and always will be the squad and winning in the navy jersey with all of them.

All the camps, pre-season training and skills sessions will culminate under the Friday night lights against England.

We’re ready to show what the new Scotland can do and are capable of on the big stage.