Sean Maitland is a surprise absentee from Gregor Townsend's 29-man squad for Scotland's final Six Nations game against France in Paris on Friday.

Glasgow Warriors team-mate Fraser Brown does not make the squad despite the hooker returning from injury for his club against Dragons on Sunday.

Exeter Chiefs lock Jonny Gray misses out again through injury.

Friday's game was postponed from Sunday 28 February after an outbreak of Covid-19 in the French camp, with head coach Fabien Galthie and 11 players testing positive for the virus.

It meant Scotland had to come to a special agreement with England's Premiership clubs for the release of players.

That limited the number of players they could call up and, although Maitland started against Italy and was available for selection from Saracensz\as, it was a selection decision that meant he was left out.

Townsend's side are looking for a victory that would take them above Ireland and Friday's visitors into second place in the Six Nations table.

France will snatch the title from Wales if they secure a winning margin of 21 points or more in a bonus-point win.

Maitland started at full-back in 52-10 rout of Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, with captain Stuart Hogg moved to fly-half in the absence of Finn Russell.

However, Russell returns from his absence through concussion, while Hastings is free to play after his three-game ban for a red card picked up against Leinster in the Pro14 ended in time for him to start Glasgow's 26-17 defeat by Dragons.

Brown, who had been expected to miss the Six Nations campaign with a neck injury picked up in December also started that game.

Scotland squad

Forwards: Simon Berghan, David Cherry, Alex Craig, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Nick Haining, Rob Harley, Oli Kebble, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Sam Skinner, Grant Stewart, Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Hamish Watson.

Backs: Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg (captain), Sam Johnson, Huw Jones, Rufus McLean, Duhan van der Merwe, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Scott Steele, Jaco van der Walt.