EDINBURGH -- Chris Cusiter will lead Scotland in former England coach Andy Robinson's first Test in charge against Fiji at Murrayfield on Sunday (Fiji time), with co-captain and scrum-half rival Mike Blair on the bench.
Earlier this month Robinson took the unusual decision of not only naming co-captains but splitting the role between players in the same position.
However a clearer idea of who really is Robinson's first-choice scrum-half will come, provided both Cusiter, yet to lead Scotland, and Edinburgh captain Blair are still fit when he names his side to play Australia at Murrayfield on November 21.
Blair had been Scotland's lone captain for the past 18 months but Robinson, asked why he favoured Cuister against Fiji, said: "At times, you look at the team you're playing against.
"But also, these calls are very close; I've got to pick one of these guys and I felt that it was right to start with Chris. He has been very consistent this year and I've enjoyed watching the way that he's run with the ball as well."
Elsewhere in his line-up for Fiji, Robinson handed a debut to 21-year-old centre Alex Grove, who plays his club rugby for English Premiership side Worcester, while tight-head prop Moray Low is due to make his first Test start. Meanwhile ace goalkicker Chris Paterson is on the bench, with Phil Godman at fly-half and Rory Lamont at full-back.
In all there are ten changes in personnel from the Scotland team that started their last international against England at Twickenham in March, where a 26-12 loss marked the end of Frank Hadden's reign as coach.
This will be Robinson's first Test in charge of Scotland since his appointment in June and he added Monday: "We have selected a side that's full of power; that has the pace but also has the skill level to break down the Fijians.
"Fiji are above us in the IRB (International Rugby Board) rankings.
Rory Lamont; Sean Lamont, Alex Grove, Graeme Morrison, Simon Danielli; Phil Godman, Chris Cusiter (capt); Johnnie Beattie, John Barclay, Alasdair Strokosch; Alastair Kellock, Nathan Hines; Moray Low, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen
Subs: Dougie Hall, Kyle Traynor, Jason White, Richie Vernon, Mike Blair, Chris Paterson, Nick de Luca
