Preview: Scotland v Italy

Vern Cotter’s side suffered a 19-22 loss after conceding a late penalty try in February and they will want to restore morale at Murrayfield in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match.

Although they notched a 16-12 win against the Italians with a shadow XV in Turin last Saturday, they will be out to settle that Murrayfield score in their only home warm-up match before crossing the border for their World Cup campaign in England next month.

"I think our mindset is different from what it was at the start of the Six Nations," said lock Jonny Gray, one of seven members of the Scotland XV who also started against Italy in February. 

"That was hugely disappointing, and it always hurts when you lose, but we have made big improvements since then and the squad is in a good place. 

"This is our last game at Murrayfield before the start of the World Cup and hopefully we can get things right."

Gray is one of five key players making their first appearance in Scotland’s warm-up series, which started with a 22-28 defeat by Ireland in Dublin two weeks ago. 

Also returning are fullback Stuart Hogg, outside centre Mark Bennett, flyhalf Finn Russell, all teammates of Gray in Glasgow's Pro12 title-winning side last season, plus Gloucester scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw, who resumes the captaincy.

Scotland have lost their last four matches at Murrayfield, most recently a 10-40 capitulation against Ireland on the final day of the Six Nations, and will be seeking to rise to the occasion in front of a crowd that will overtake the 35,264 record for a home World Cup warm-up contest, set against Ireland in 2003.

Scotland coach Cotter has made 14 changes to the team that played last week, with only veteran Glasgow wing Sean Lamont retained. 

Scarlets flank John Barclay, in line for his first start since 2013, will be playing for a place in the 31-man World Cup squad, which has yet to be finalised by their Kiwi coach. 

Italy coach Jacques Brunel, who announced his World Cup party earlier this week, has made eight changes to the side beaten in Turin. 

Former Scotland Under-20 flyhalf Tommaso Allan returns in the No.10 shirt and Luke McLean is at fullback.

But No.8 and captain Sergio Parisse is still missing because of illness.

Allan came off the bench to convert the penalty try that clinched Italy's Six Nations win in Edinburgh six months ago. 

He will be joined in the line-up on Saturday by six men who started that contest, which was only Italy’s second victory on the road in the Six Nations, following a 37-17 success at Murrayfield in 2007.

Both countries have one more warm-up game after Saturday's match, with Scotland away to France in Paris on September 5 when Italy face Wales in Cardiff.

Italy open their World Cup campaign against France at Twickenham on September 19. Scotland start four days later against Japan at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

Players to watch:

For Scotland: At fullback the majestic Stuart Hogg is back in the line-up and his ability to beat defenders with pace should cause the Italians headaches if they kick on him. The flying Dutchman Tim Visser is always a handful on the wing with his strength while a new halfback pairing of Greg Laidlaw and Finn Russell will need to ignite their backline and show Vern Cotter their worth. In the forwards, Zimbabwean-born and South-African schooled David Denton is back in the mix and should get the Scots some go-forward ball while Willem Nel gets his shot at staking a claim for the World Cup squad. 

For Italy: 69-time-capped Luke McClean brings a wealth of experience to the Azzurri backline and must link-up well with his wings Angelo Esposito and Leonardo Sarto. Promising flyhalf Tommaso Allen can dictate the game with his boot to get Italy on the scoreboard. Italy's forwards always play tough and the front row exudes experience with Martin Castrogiovanni and Leonardo Ghiraldini who will test the Scottish front-row.

Head to head: The flyhalf battle is definitely one to watch with two promising youngsters dictating play and brining their respective midfields into battle where a fresh test will commence – the Glasgow pair Peter Horne and Mark Bennett up against Hugo Campagnaro and Luca Morisi. In the forwards look no further than the front row where scrum doctor Martin Castrogiovanni and Co will bash heads with Ross Ford and his two props. 

Recent results:

2015: Scotland won 16-12 in Turin

2015: Italy won 22-19 in Edinburgh 

2014: Scotland won 21-20 in Rome

2013: Scotland won 30-29 in Pretoria

2013: Scotland won 34-10 in Edinburgh

2012: Italy won 13-6 in Rome

2011: Scotland won 23-12 in Edinburgh

2011: Scotland won 21-8 in Edinburgh

2010: Italy won 16-12 in Rome

2009: Scotland won 26-6 in Edinburgh

2008: Italy won 23-20 in Rome

Prediction: Scotland will re-write the wrongs of their Six Nations defeat at Murrayfield and trump the Azzurri by a close margin again… Scots by 5.

Teams:

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 David Denton, 7 John Barclay, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Robert Harley, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Matt Scott.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Hugo Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Marcello Violi, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Andrea Masi.

Date: Saturday, August 29

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 15.15 (16.15 Italian time, 14.15 GMT)

Expected weather: 18°C at a cold Murrayfield with 60% chance of rain. 

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)