Scotland's Team Whyte suffered a difficult first day of action at the LGT Men’s World Championships in Utah, losing both their matches after going the distance, but their belief in their capacity to contend for medals has not been shaken.
Making their debut in the event, Ross Whyte, Robin Brydone, Craig Waddell, Euan Kyle and Duncan McFadzean could not have come up against stronger opponents in their opening match than seven time champions and former Olympic champions Team Edin, but were level with the Swedes at the start of the final end where they were edged out 6-5. 
It was a similar story against Japan, the Scottish quartet once again losing out in the pre-match draw shot contest which gave their opponents a slight advantage and they, too, managed to keep their noses in front, making last stone advantage count at the final end to score the two that gave them a 7-5 win.
"Those were two hard games today," Scotland skip Whyte admitted.
"Both teams really came out firing, really put us under a lot of pressure and we couldn’t quite turn hammer quick enough and just left ourselves in a tricky spot going down the last end.
"We understand that every game out here is going to be really difficult and everyone is going to be coming out firing because they are playing against Scotland and they know we are a good team, so it was a tricky start to the tournament but we have been sliding well and there are a lot of positives we can take from today so that is the plan to take forward."
The loss in the opener was all the more painful because the match ended on a rare technical violation as Whyte's final delivery, which could have put the Swedes under enormous pressure, saw the stone removed from the ice after the red lights flashed to indicate that he had not fully let it go before the hog-line.
"That was a tough end to the first game and clearly I just over-slid the hog-line and didn’t let it go in time so that was a bit of an annoying one, but we re-grouped as a team and got ourselves going for the next game.
"Unfortunately it didn’t quite go our way either, but that is fine and we are looking forward to the next day of the event."
Their itinerary is at least as tough on the second day as they take on the highest ranked team in the competition, Canada's Team Dunstone, before meeting the host nation's former Olympic champion skip John Shuster and his men in Ogden.
However, having won in the sport's most competitive environment, the Grand Slam of Curling circuit, in each of the last two seasons, Team Whyte know they have the capacity to beat the best and will be ready.
"We just need to keep doing all the good stuff we are doing and hopefully we can put in a good day against Canada and USA," said Whyte.
"Obviously those are another tough two games, against probably two of the higher end teams in the field, but we know we can compete against every team in this field and try and get the wins.
"So realistically we are looking forward to the challenge and they are the next ones that we have to try and win."
The championship takes place from March 27 to April 4 with all 13 competing nations meeting one another in round-robin competition before the top six go on to battle for the medals.
Scotland’s 12 rival nations are - Canada, China, Czechia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA
Please click here for more information about the LGT World Men’s Curling Championships in Ogden, USA (27 March – 4 April).
Watch all games on the Curling Channel
Day One – 27 March
Scotland – Sweden 5 - 6
Scotland – Japan 5 - 7
Day Two – 28 March
Scotland – Canada 8.00pm (GMT)
Scotland – USA 1.00am (GMT)
Team Image: Team Whyte, Ross Whyte image: World Curling
