Former world champion Jackie Lockhart admitted she will have to control her emotions when the European Curling Championships kick off on home soil in Aberdeen in December.

The 44-year-old will play third on the Scottish team led by world junior champion Eve Muirhead with the championships almost a trial run for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.

Lockhart – from Stonehaven – upset the odds to claim Scotland’s first ever women’s World Championship gold as skip in 2002 a matter of weeks after making her Olympic bow in Turin.

And with Scotland set to host a major championships for the first time in four years – Lockhart insisted she will have to be as focused as ever to ensure Muirhead’s team repeat the trick.

“It’s going to be exciting. I’ll be quite nervous playing on home ice for the first time, but I’m looking forward to having local support,” said Lockhart.

“It will add another layer of discipline that we’re going to have to apply not to be distracted.

“I’ll be nervous enough playing without noticing who’s in the audience, but I’m looking forward to playing in the atmosphere that we’re looking for.”