Ali Price will win his 50th Test cap on Saturday after Gregor Townsend named his Scotland team to face Italy in the Guinness Six Nations.
Scrum-half Price, 28, will start alongside regular half-back partner Finn Russell for the seventh consecutive Test when Townsend’s side visit the Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico.
Townsend has made five changes to the side that lost to France in Round 3, with Sam Johnson returning to the line-up for the first time since Round 1.
Johnson will partner Chris Harris in the centres while Kyle Steyn will make his first Guinness Six Nations start on the wing, with Darcy Graham also in the back three.
Full-back Stuart Hogg captains the side with Matt Fagerson returning from injury to start at No.8, and Hamish Watson back in the starting XV after missing the contest against France due to Covid.
After an impressive performance in his first international start in Round 3, Rory Darge retains his place in the squad, while Grant Gilchrist and Sam Skinner are unchanged in the second row.
George Turner returns to Townsend’s line-up in the front row, joining Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman.
From the bench scrum-half Ben Vellacott is in line to make his debut, while Adam Hastings could make his first appearance of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations after being recalled to the squad.
Stuart McInally, WP Nel and Allan Dell are Townsend’s options as front row replacements, with Magnus Bradbury, Sione Tuipulotu and Jamie Hodgson also available.
Scotland team to face Italy
15. Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – (Captain)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 25 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 34 caps
12. Sam Johnson – Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps
11. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps
10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 – (Vice-Captain) – 61 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 49 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – 7 caps
2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 23 caps
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 45 caps
4. Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 18 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – (Vice-Captain) – 51 caps
6. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – 2 caps
7. Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 47 caps
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 19 caps
Replacements
16. Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 46 caps
17. Allan Dell – London Irish – 32 caps
18. WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 46 caps
19. Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – 4 caps
20. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 17 caps
21. Ben Vellacott – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
22. Adam Hastings – Gloucester Rugby – 25 caps
23. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – 4 caps
