New Scotland captain Kieron Achara will be doing everything he can to make sure he leads his country out at the Commonwealth Games.

The 34-year-old was named captain of the Scotland basketball team to compete on the Gold Coast in Australia in April, bringing an end to 12 years of hurt.

Achara, despite a long and distinguished professional career, has yet to represent his country at a major tournament having suffered an injury before the 2006 Games. Basketball was pulled from subsequent events, including in Glasgow four years ago.

However, he is adamant he will not miss out and will be doing all he can to make it to Australia this time in what he thinks could prove to be the pinnacle of his career.

“Everyone always uses the cliche ‘surreal’ but it really is,” he told Press Association Sport. “You start to reflect back on previous experiences and it’s such an honour, I’m so thrilled.

“I will do everything I can to stay healthy because that was the setback in 2006, when I popped my shoulder, so I will do everything I can.

“We still have a lot of the season to play as well so it’s about making sure I’m not getting too carried away and staying in the moment.

“I will just try and control the controllables, and that means doing extra stretches and staying a bit longer in the gym.”

Given that Achara led Great Britain out six years ago in London for the 2012 Olympics, it would be easy for the Glasgow Rocks man to take his place for granted, but he was made to sweat for his place in the Scotland squad this year.

“I heard that players were getting selected and getting phone calls from the coach, and I was waiting for it but it never came!” he said. “I thought I hadn’t been selected, but the coach must have assumed I already knew.”

He added: “It’s a great feeling (to be leading Scotland) and I’ve never been shy of saying that.

“I love playing for GB, I’m very honoured to play for GB but there’s something unique about playing for Scotland.

“I am British and happy to be British, but I am also Scottish and to be such a small nation and such an underdog… I cannot explain but I am always proud to play for Scotland and I’m really excited for this.”

The Games could be the perfect way for Achara to bow out if he wants, and he is confident his 12-man squad have a good chance of upsetting a few of the bigger nations.

Scotland will kick off their campaign against England before facing Cameroon and India and have avoided the big hitters in Australia, New Zealand and Canada in the pools, which gives Achara belief they can do well.

“I genuinely believe we can medal,” he said. “We have a little pool that if we can gain some momentum through it, in the next round anything is possible.”