HAWICK’s Nikki Walker starts for Scotland A in their match with England Saxons on Friday night.
The Worcester winger makes his return to the Scotland fold for the first time since being injured before the 2011 World Cup.
He is joined in the squad by Newcastle prop Grant Shiells from Kelso, who starts on the bench, for the match which takes place at his home ground.
Head coach Shade Munro said: “This is the first senior representative match of 2013 for a Scottish side and, as an opener for the RBS 6 Nations Championship, we have the opportunity to put a marker down and show what Scottish rugby is about, while those selected have an excellent chance to show why they deserve to feature in the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations campaign.
“However, with just one game for the Scotland A team this season, these elements are really an aside to our main objective. Everything this team has done has been designed to put us in a position to beat the England Saxons at Newcastle.
“Our commitment to our defensive structure and aggression, our discipline and our willingness to support one another if and when we have the chance to cut loose in attack are of paramount importance.”
The game kicks off at 8pm.
Scotland A: G. Tonks (Edinburgh), D. Taylor (Saracens), A. Grove (Worcester), A. Dunbar (Glasgow), N. Walker (Worcester), T. Heathcote (Bath), S. Kennedy (Glasgow); A. Dickinson (Sale), S. Lawrie (Edinburgh), J. Welsh (Glasgow), T. Ryder (Glasgow), T. Swinson (Glasgow), S. McInally (Edinburgh), R. Vernon (Sale), R. Wilson (Glasgow). Subs: A. Walker (Edinburgh), G. Shiells (Newcastle), G. Reid (Glasgow), R. McAlpine (Edinburgh), J. Eddie (Glasgow), J. Stevenson (London Scottish), B. Cairns (Edinburgh), D. Fife (Edinburgh).