Those players will be joined in the mixed team event by two 20-year-olds – Rebekka Findlay and Caitlin Pringle.
The 23 badminton teams at Glasgow 2014 are divided into five groups of four teams and one group of three. The six group winners and the best two runners-up will progress to the knockout round.
Each tie is determined from best-of-five contests featuring matches in each of the five categories – mixed doubles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, men’s singles and women’s singles.
“I think the team event is quite strong. We’re going in on fifth position,” Blair said of Scotland, who are ranked behind Malaysia, England, Singapore and India.
“If we all perform to our best it’s a chance to take on some of the big teams.
“I’m sure everyone would love it if we came up against England for a medal. It would be something for everyone to get excited about.”
Merrilees, Van Rietvelde, Bankier, Gilmour and Cooper all represented Scotland at the 2010 Games when the team reached the quarter-finals and 2006 bronze medallist Susan Egelstaff finished fourth in the women’s singles.
But for Campbell, MacHugh, Findlay and Pringle, the Games are a new experience.
“There aren’t many competitions where it’s almost two weeks of solid playing so it can be draining and stressful,” Blair added.
“You have to relax to make sure you are ready. Hopefully I can give them a bit of advice and they might not ignore the old man talking to them.”
Wise words from a thirty-something.