Scotland A have included Saracens back Duncan Taylor on the right wing for their meeting with the England Saxons at Kingston Park on Friday.
Coach Shade Munro has challenged his charges to complete a home and away double over the Saxons and set the tone for the Six Nations.
Last season Scotland's back-up senior side ran in four unanswered tries to win 35-0 against their English counterparts at Netherdale, and now prepare for a return fixture at Kingston Park.
"This is the first senior representative match of 2013 for a Scottish side and, as an opener for the RBS 6 Nations Championship, we have the opportunity to put a marker down and show what Scottish rugby is about, while those selected have an excellent chance to show why they deserve to feature in the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations campaign," said Munro.
"However, with just one game for the Scotland A team this season, these elements are really an aside to our main objective. Everything this team has done has been designed to put us in a position to beat the England Saxons at Newcastle.
"Our commitment to our defensive structure and aggression, our discipline and our willingness to support one another if and when we have the chance to cut loose in attack are of paramount importance."
Ten of the squad that secured the win last year went on to earn full international honours, with six of the 22 returning to face the Saxons once more: centre Alex Grove, prop Jon Welsh, lock Tom Ryder, back-row trio Stuart McInally, Richie Vernon and Ryan Wilson.
Bath's Tom Heathcote, who earned his first and only cap to date in the 2012 November Tests, starts at fly-half along side 21-year-old scrum-half, Sean Kennedy, one of the eight uncapped players in the starting line-up.
Fellow uncapped Warrior Alex Dunbar steps in at inside centre to partner Grove in midfield.
Up front, loosehead Alasdair Dickinson packs down alongside uncapped Edinburgh hooker, Steven Lawrie, and returning tighthead Welsh, to complete a front-row of players returning from injury (shoulder, knee and shoulder) all keen to ignite their Test ambitions.
Lock Ryder will line-up alongside fellow Warrior Tim Swinson in the second-row, Swinson returning to Kingston Park for the first time since joining the RaboDirect PRO12 outfit.
The pack is set by a pacy, ball-carrying back-row, with number eight Wilson selected to partner McInally and Vernon, who start on the blind and openside flanks respectively.
Scotland A: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Duncan Taylor, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Ryan Wilson (capt), 7 Richie Vernon, 6 Stuart McInally, 5 Tim Swinson, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Steven Lawrie, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Alun Walker, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Gordon Reid, 19 Robert McAlpine, 20 James Eddie, 21 Jamie Stevenson, 22 Ben Cairns, 23 Dougie Fife.
Date: Friday, February 1
Kick-off: 20:00
Venue: Kingston Park
Comments
scot_rsa says...
Important match and this looks a strong scottish side under a coach who is earning a good reputation gradually. Great to see Jon Welsh back, should succeed Murray. Great win last year at Gala, Scotland have less distance to travel than England again. Not sure how strong Saxons are but good luck Scotland A.
Posted 20:38 31st January 2013
APV1 says...
Heathcote vs Burns is my pick of the match-ups. Especially with the rumours about Burns possibly coming to Bath...
Posted 13:54 31st January 2013