Gregor Townsend is mindful of “creating depth” for the future after making 14 changes for Scotland’s Nations Championship clash with Fiji.
Only Gregor Brown retains his starting place following last weekend’s defeat by South Africa and Stafford McDowall will captain the team with a host of experienced players on the bench.
Townsend, whose side won in Argentina in their opening game, said: “We’re excited to see this team play. A lot of them have been training throughout against the teams that have played against Argentina and South Africa.
“There’s one player that misses out, Nathan Macbeth, who’s had a leg infection in the last few days, but everyone that came on tour is going to get a chance to play. And a lot of them are getting a chance to start.
“We’ve got to have an eye on the future, so the depth that we’ve created and are still creating, that only comes if you give people opportunities.”
Hooker Gregor Hiddleston and flanker Freddy Douglas will make their first international starts when Fiji visit Murrayfield on Saturday in what is officially their home game.
“Freddy came off the bench against France in the Six Nations, so we think very highly of him to put him in the squad for such an important game,” the head coach said.
“The breakdown is going to be a crucial area. Fiji love to jackal; we now have one of the best jackals in the world on our team, so if it becomes that sort of game, I think Freddy can come into his own.
“But he’s developed his game much more than that. He’s a carrier, really detailed in his maul work, and he knows now the balance between having to tackle and waiting for the jackal.
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“Gregor has been excellent. I can’t speak enough of him on how he integrated into the group during the Six Nations when he was not in the 23 and then just how he’s taken on board the subtleties in our game compared to Glasgow, but also playing a Test match.
“He has shown over the last two weeks that he is not only ready for a Test match but he actually plays better or thrives even more playing Test rugby.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Scotland’s two leading try scorers of all time, wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, have been brought in for their first appearances of the summer after missing out to Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie.
“Both of them can consider themselves unlucky not to play in the first two games,” Townsend said.
“They’ve both reacted really well in training. Duhan had some injury issues during the Six Nations, came back and played really well for Edinburgh at the end of the season. We had a training game with Spain where he went very well.
“We see him now in his best physical shape and really confident with how his body is working.
“Darcy hasn’t changed really at all throughout the year. Whatever role he played in the Six Nations, whether it was off the bench or starting, he was outstanding.
“They’re really motivated.”
Scotland Starting XV: Jordan (Bristol), Graham (Edinburgh), Smith (Glasgow), McDowall (Glasgow, capt), Van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Burke (Saracens), Horne (Glasgow); Sutherland, Hiddleston (both Glasgow), Rae (Edinburgh), Gray (Perpignan), Williamson (Glasgow), Bayliss (Bath), Douglas (Edinburgh), Brown (Glasgow).
Replacements: Stephen, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Dobie, Tuipulotu (all Glasgow), Schoeman, Bradbury, McConnell (all Edinburgh).
