Head Coach Vern Cotter has presented a new group of Scotland players with the chance to put their hand up for the Rugby World Cup, with selection against Italy this Saturday at BT Murrayfield (kick-off 3.15pm) – live on BT Sport.

The match is supporters’ last chance to get behind Scotland on home soil before they depart for the event in England.

With a record Scottish summer Test crowd, the off-field summer party theme is set to have the national stadium rocking from doors open.With record Scottish summer Test corwthe off-field summer party theme is set to have the national stadium rocking from doors open.

Tickets for Saturday’s Test match against Italy are priced from £5 (U18s) and £15 (adults). The match is the first on the great-value 2015/16 Scotland season pass for all home games – prices from £100 (adults) and £60 (U18s).

Sean Lamont is the only player to return to the starting team that overcame Italy 16-12 in Turin last weekend.

The 95-times capped Glasgow Warriors wing starts a third straight summer Test, having been brought back into the squad as a replacement for Tommy Seymour who has back pain.

Lock Grant Gilchrist would have also been set for his third start this summer had sickness not ruled him out of last weekend’s game on the morning of the match, however the Alloa man is back in the boiler-house alongside Jonny Gray to reunite a combination that first, and last, took the field together on the 2014 summer tour.

In the front-row, Edinburgh Rugby trio Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Willem Nel start the match after their impressive replacement appearance against Italy, with a powerful and dynamic back-row trio of John Barclay, David Denton and Ryan Wilson completing the pack.

Ford’s appearance will see him overtake the appearance record for a Scotland forward that he shares with former lock Scott Murray, when he makes his 88th appearance for his country this Saturday.

In the back-three, mainstay Lamont is joined by full-back Stuart Hogg and Harlequins’ wing Tim Visser.

Glasgow Warriors’ Peter Horne starts alongside teammate Mark Bennett in midfield, while Finn Russell and captain Greig Laidlaw will look to orchestrate proceedings at half-back.

It’s a good indication of our growing quality and depth that we’re able to pitch another quite different, yet talented, side into battle this Saturday.
– Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter

“Many of these players have worked hard all summer long and have had to wait patiently on the sidelines for this opportunity.

“They’re keen to pull on the jersey, get out there, and put in a strong performance as part of a successful Scotland team.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s record crowd for a Scottish summer Test match, he added: “The players and coaches are always very grateful for the support we get at BT Murrayfield, so the news of Saturday’s record crowd gave everyone a nice lift at the start of this week.

“Our job is to go out there and be accurate in our application and perform to our ability. Do that and we’ll be on the right track to delivering a performance for which the Scottish people can be proud, in what is our last home appearance before the Rugby World Cup.”

SCOTLAND TEAM (SPONSOR BT) TO PLAY ITALY AT BT MURRAYFIELD THIS SATURDAY (29 AUGUST, KICK-OFF 3.15PM) – LIVE ON BT SPORT

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps; 9 tries, 1 pen, 48 points

14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 95 caps; 12 tries, 60 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 7 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
12 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps, 1 try, 1 con, 1 pen, 10 points
11 Tim Visser (Harlequins); 19 caps; 7 tries, 35 points

10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps; 1 try, 1 con, 7 points
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 39 caps; 3 tries, 41 cons, 81 pens, 340 points

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 45 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 87 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
3 Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
4 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps; 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
7 John Barclay (Scarlets) – 44 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) – 26 caps

Substitutes
16 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 10 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps; 1 try
19 Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps; 1 try, 5 points
20 Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 12 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
22 Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps) – 26 caps; 4 cons, 2 pens, 2 drops, 20 points
23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 27 caps, 3 tries, 15 points