Peter Horne has been given the responsibility of leading Scotland from the key position of fly-half as Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has made four changes for the RBS 6 Nations meeting with Italy at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Glasgow Warrior, who started his rugby career at the Howe of Fife club in Cupar, will make his first start for his country, his first appearance on home soil and his first start at fly-half as the replacement for the suspended Finn Russell.
Faced with a choice of two players who were not regular 10s and who had never started an international in the position, Cotter has preferred Horne to Edinburgh’s Greig Tonks, who has played more times for his club in the position but was only converted to fly-half in the middle of last season.
Horne has played several matches at 10 for Glasgow from his customary position as an inside centre and has filled in twice as a replacement for Scotland, in two matches on the summer tour to South Africa in 2013. He has also played the last two games for Glasgow in the position in the Guinness PRO12 while Russell was away with Scotland.
Cotter’s other change in the backs sees Tommy Seymour return for Tim Visser, with Sean Lamont retaining his place in an all-Glasgow formation.
In the forwards, Euan Murray is recalled after misisng the Wales game due to religious observance, while Tim Swinson comes into the side in place of the injured Richie Gray.
There are two prospective new caps on the bench in Edinburgh pair Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Sean Lamont; Peter Horne (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (Both Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray; Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray; Rob Harley (all Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), Johnnie Beattie (Castres Olympique).
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Ryan Grant (both Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (London Irish), Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Tonks, Matt Scott (all Edinburgh Rugby).