Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall is set for his second Scotland appearance after being selected to start Saturday’s Six Nations match away to title-chasing Ireland.
The 26-year-old made his debut against Italy in a World Cup warm-up match last summer before being cut from Gregor Townsend’s squad for the tournament in France.
The recent injury sustained by regular starter Sione Tuipulotu paved the way for Cam Redpath to make a rare start in last weekend’s damaging 31-29 defeat away to the Azzurri.
However, McDowall, who has been in good form for Warriors this term, has been preferred to Redpath, who drops to the bench in one of two changes to the team that started in Rome.
The other alteration sees first-choice scrum-half Ben White return in place of George Horne after the Toulon number nine was rested for the match at the Stadio Olimpico.
Backs Horne and Redpath both drop to the bench, with head coach Gregor Townsend reverting to a 5/3 split after going with a 6/2 last weekend.
Veteran prop Rory Sutherland, a late call-up to the squad ahead of the Italy game, is in line for his first outing of the championship after being named among the subs.
Fellow loosehead Alec Hepburn drops out of the 23 along with former captain Jamie Ritchie.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 14, 2024
Scotland team to play Ireland in Six Nations
Forwards: 1 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 2 George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), 3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), 5 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Andy Christie (Saracens), 7 Rory Darge (Co-Captain, Glasgow Warriors), 8 Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors)
Backs: 9 Ben White (Toulon), 10 Finn Russell (Co-Captain, Bath Rugby), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), 12 Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), 13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), 14 Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), 15 Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse)
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), 17 Rory Sutherland (Oyonnax), 18 Elliot Millar-Mills (Northampton Saints), 19 Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby), 20 Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 21 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), 22 Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), 23 Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors)