Kyle Rowe makes his first Scotland start at full-back, with Blair Kinghorn missing through injury for the Six Nations opener in Wales on Saturday.

Former captain Jamie Ritchie retains his place and is joined in the back row by Luke Crosbie and Matt Fagerson.

Richie Gray, 34, plays in his 11th championship beside second row partner Scott Cummings.

Winger Kyle Steyn wins his 16th cap in the absence of Darcy Graham, who is expected to miss the first two fixtures along with Kinghorn.

With Ollie Smith recovering from a long-term injury, Glasgow Warriors team-mate Rowe gets his chance.

The 25-year-old former Sevens international has featured just once before as a replacement on the 2022 tour of Argentina.

His debut lasted just 12 minutes as a damaged ACL resulted in him being sidelined for most of the following year.

Rowe has been in sparkling form for Warriors, scoring seven tries this season, but all of those have come from the wing.

Props Alec Hepburn (loosehead) and Elliot Millar-Mills (tighthead) are set for debuts from the bench.

Scotland, who finished third with three wins in 2023, are seeking a first victory in Cardiff in 22 years, with their 2020 success coming in Llanelli.

Experienced lock Grant Gilchrist is banned for the trip, having also missed the final two games of last year's Six Nations through suspension.

Scotland: Rowe, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, Cummings, Crosbie, Ritchie, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Ashman, Hepburn, Millar-Mills, Skinner, Dempsey, Horne, Healy, Redpath.