Peter Horne is ready to rebuild his Glasgow and Scotland career after nine months out as he makes his return for the Warriors in the Rabodirect PRO12.
The former Howe of Fife player is on the bench as Benetton Treviso are the visitors to Scotstoun in a re-arranged fixture.
It’s one of Glasgow’s two games in hand on their play-off rivals after successive victories in the last fortnight have put them in position to move into the top four.
Gregor Townsend has opted to rest many of the men who secured those victories, however, with Chris Cusiter, Duncan Weir, Alex Dunbar, Jonny Gray, Josh Strauss, Jon Welsh and Chris Fusaro all out this week.
For Horne, the late season is a chance to re-establish himself since knee ligament damage playing for Scotland in June cost him almost all of this season.
“Peter has had a frustrating nine months with injury but has worked really hard and featured in a couple of club games recently so he’s ready to be involved with us again,” Townsend said.
The coach’s reshuffling will mean a first Warrior start for Scotland prop Geoff Cross, who came from Edinburgh on a loan deal before he departs to a new contract with London Irish at the end of the season.
Ruaridh Jackson and Henry Pyrgos are the half-backs, Sean Maitland makes his first start since suffering an injury in the first Six Nations match in Dublin while Al Kellock starts as captain alongside Tim Swinson.
“It’s great to have three successive games at Scotstoun and the crowd last week were really vocal and got behind the team,” Townsend said.
“We are fully aware of the challenge Benetton Treviso will pose and the work rate the players put in last Friday will have to be repeated if we’re to get a positive result.”
There’s a new-look midfield with Mark Bennett partnering Finn Russell, with Bennett one of three players included who were in Hong Kong this time last week helping the Scots win the bowl at the famous sevens tournament.
Treviso’s win over Edinburgh last week was their first in six games, and the Italian side have lost all 11 games away from home in all competitions this season so far.