Mitchell opted to only make three changes from his side’s hammering of Wales in Cardiff to the comfortable win in Ireland last Saturday, with a large majority of his frontline stars, who were involved in last year’s Grand Slam win over France in Bordeaux and WXV1 title triumph, starting.
Nine changes for the game against Scotland offers a perfect opportunity for some big names to play their way into a potential title showdown.
Holly Aitchison – Mitchell’s preferred fly-half option last year – starts her first game at 10 this Six Nations and will want to show off the running game that originally gave her the edge on in-form Zoe Harrison.
Aitchison’s half-back partner Lucy Packer continues to look lively off the bench and is rewarded with a start as she looks to add to her four try assists – the joint-highest in the tournament – to prove worthy of a spot over Natasha Hunt.
Former England captain Marlie Packer returns at open-side flanker to start her first game since the opening-round win over Italy.
The 35-year-old has lifted the Six Nations trophy over the past two years but was replaced by Zoe Aldcroft in January as skipper.
Packer’s involvement for Saracens in the Premiership Women’s Rugby final, which was played a week before the opening Six Nations game, was factored into her management. But back-to-back strong performances from Loughborough Lightning’s Sadia Kabeya has put pressure on the 2014 World Cup winner.
Maddie Feaunati’s switch to number eight has been a huge success this campaign and with World Cup winner Alex Matthews now back up to speed, even a back row bench spot is hugely competitive.
“There are going to be some really difficult decisions to be made, but it is in their hands to play their hearts out,” former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“You want some older senior players in your squad, whether England have younger senior heads that can do that, I am not too sure.”
Powerful Gloucester-Hartpury centre Jade Shekells was a surprise inclusion for her first Red Roses start on Saturday.
Having only re-joined XVs from sevens at the start of the season, her punch in the carry caught the interest of Mitchell who then capped the 28-year-old against Italy, to add another player to a list of talented centres.
One of those centre options is 117-cap Emily Scarratt, and like Packer she returns to the matchday squad for her first appearance since the opening round.
“We are completely blessed at the minute to have so much strength and depth with so many good youngsters,” 2014 World Cup-winner Scarratt told BBC Sport.
“Competition within the team is awesome and really making everyone step up and push on.”
The fact a Grand Slam-decider could occur without a fit Packer or Scarratt shows Mitchell’s mission to grow “two teams” is reaching its required destination.
