Scotland head coach Bryan Easson expects Jade Konkel to miss all of the Women's Six Nations.

Easson has picked uncapped Alex Stewart at open-side flanker for Saturday's opener in Wales and says the squad is the "strongest" of his time in charge.

"I think so," said Easson when asked if Konkel would miss the championship.

"She's had a syndesmosis injury and she's running, but she's still feeling a bit of discomfort.

"I had a good chat with her - I speak to her regularly - and it's disappointing someone like Jade is out, but she understands there's a bigger picture with WXV and World Cups ahead, so she needs to get her recovery right."

There was better news on Beth Blacklock and Francesca McGhie.

"Beth had a small injury that we were looking at about four weeks, so we're hoping she'll be back just after the fallow week," Easson explained.

"Francesca is very close. She's been in with the squad this week running and she's moving in the right direction. We just want to make sure she is 100%. She put in some brilliant performances last year but she's still young. She's not far away at all."

Easson has gone with a largely experienced line-up for Cardiff with blind-side flanker Rachel Malcolm continuing as captain.

The Scots finished fourth in last season's championship, one place and five points below the Welsh.

Debutant Stewart, who plays club rugby for Corstorphine Cougars, can provide a "really good blend" in the back row, said Easson.

He added: "She fits in well with Rachel and Evie [Gallagher] and it's a really good challenge to Rachel McLachlan as well."

Meryl Smith starts at full-back with Chloe Rollie joining McLachlan on the bench.

"She is a good ball player," said Easson of Smith. "She's really good in certain positions. She's a good kicker. Her game management has been good, to have her and [fly-half] Helen Nelson on the pitch... you get to certain positions on the pitch and you've got a first receiver either side.

"I've watched her playing full-back for Bristol Bears this year and she's really impressed me. She's somebody that, the performances she's putting in mean she deserves to be on the pitch.

"It probably is the strongest squad I've been involved with. When you are sitting looking at a bench that has got Shona Campbell, Chloe, Rachel McLachlan, you've got some players there that when you want to change the game, you've got potential to do that. It's testament to the squad we've got."

Scotland: Meryl Smith; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Coreen Grant; Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Sara Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Elliann Clarke, Louise McMillan, Rachel McLachlan, Mairi McDonald, Shona Campbell, Chloe Rollie.