Interim Scotland head coach Scott Johnson has reacted to defeat by Samoa and the run of injuries that followed by making seven changes for the game against the Springboks at Nelspruit.
Johnson has also had to name a new captain, with Edinburgh scrum-half Greig Laidlaw set to lead his country for the first time after Kelly Brown damaged an ankle last weekend.
The incomers include the remaining three uncapped players Johnson had taken on the tour to South Africa, meaning that by the time the game starts, all nine of those who arrived in the country without caps will have been blooded.
“Some of the changes were forced, some were already planned,” explained Johnson.
“We had a plan in place because we wanted to have a look at people, although the opportunity came sooner for some than maybe would have been the case without all the injuries.”
The most significant changes will be those in the backs and the new-look second row where Glasgow lock Tim Swinson gets his first cap partnering Jim Hamilton, who sat out the opening game.
Both have a mission to add the physical and confrontational style that Scotland missed so badly against Samoa.
Behind the scrum there is a heavy Glasgow influence with Ruaridh Jackson coming in at fly-half in place of Tom Heathcote, while Tommy Seymour, another debutant, takes the wing spot in place of Tim Visser who drops out of the 23 altogether.
Behind them, yet another Glasgow product is the final player to be winning his first cap with Peter Murchie reaping the reward for his consistency over the course of a season where he mainly had to play second fiddle to Stuart Hogg who is on Lions duty but still put in some notable performances.
Johnson said: “It had always been our plan to have a look at Greig Tonks in the first game and Murchie in this game, where we expect the South African style of play to suit him.
“He is good in defence and strong under the high ball and has earned his chance with a solid season for Glasgow I thought he was outstanding when they beat Northampton in the Heineken Cup.”
The big test of the side, however, is in the pack, where the front row resources could be stretched even further if either replacement hooker Steve Lawrie or starting tighthead prop Euan Murray fail to come through late fitness tests.
Scott Lawson, a late call-up to the tour party when Ross Ford tore a calf muscle, will get his first Test of the year at hooker, while in the back row Glasgow number eight Ryan Wilson is called in to replace Kelly Brown although it means packing down at openside flanker, a position he has rarely played.
Johnson added: “Our three new caps have all had strong seasons for Glasgow and have worked hard in training to have earned their chances.
“I have always said that we have to develop greater depth in our squad and this is a chance for me to see these guys in action.
“South Africa are the second best team in the world and last week, against Italy, showed a good cutting edge in attack, they have brought back the likes of Bryan Habana, so there is a fair amount of pace out there.
“When they get to the Rugby Championship, the games tend to be a lot more attritional, so they are probably trying a few things out to try to expand their game.
“They are a great, great rugby nation and we are playing them on home soil, but if we get our accuracy and aggression 100 per cent, we can give ourselves an opportunity.
Scotland team: P Murchie (Glasgow), T Seymour (Glasgow), A Dunbar (Glasgow), M Scott (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow); R Jackson (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh)(C); A Dickinson (Edinburgh), S Lawson (Newcastle), E Murray (Worcester), T Swinson (Glasgow), J Hamilton (Montpellier), A Strokosch (Perpignan), R Wilson (Glasgow), J Beattie (Montpellier). Replacements: S Lawrie (Edinburgh), J Welsh (Glasgow), M Low (Glasgow), A Kellock (Glasgow), D Denton (Edinburgh), H Pyrgos (Glasgow), P Horne (Glasgow), D Taylor (Saracens).