Scotland coach Vern Cotter included four uncapped Edinburgh players in a youthful 32-man squad announced Tuesday for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.
Scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, the 22-year-old duo of Hugh Blake (back row) and Ben Toolis (lock) and loose forward Hamish Watson (24) are the only uncapped players in a squad again captained by playmaker Greig Laidlaw in the absence of Grant Gilchrist.
Blake’s selection is something of a surprise as he has yet to play for Edinburgh since arriving at the Scottish capital club from New Zealand’s Highlanders in December.
Cotter’s first-choice skipper Gilchrist is one of several players missing through injury, including fly-half Duncan Weir.
The squad features 15 players from in-form Glasgow, including eight backs.
But the ‘Killer Bees’ back-row trio of Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie have all been left out by Cotter, ahead of what will be the New Zealander’s first Six Nations as Scotland coach.
Scotland produced several encouraging performances during the November internationals, beating Argentina and Tonga before only losing narrowly to New Zealand, albeit the world champions were not at full strength.
Of the new caps, Cotter said: “They have impressed me with their desire to go forward, and reflect the Scottish spirit of attacking and leading, to develop into impressive performers.
“I’m very confident that the players selected will underline the improvements we showed in the autumn (November) as well as some others as the group continues to come together.
He added: “Obviously we’ll be facing some very good sides, four of which are above us in the world rankings, however we have nothing to hide going into this year.”
Scotland open the Six Nations away to France on February 7 and Cotter said: “We start with a very difficult game against France in Paris and we will prepare as best as possible for that game and adapt as the competition evolves.
“The players will want to characterise the traditional traits of the Scottish game; attacking with ferocity, destabilising the opposition and trying to play smart.”
Scotland squad
Backs (15)
Mark Bennett (Glasgow), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow), Peter Horne (Glasgow) Greig Laidlaw Gloucester/ENG, capt), Sean Lamont (Glasgow), Sean Maitland (Glasgow), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Glasgow), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh, Tim Visser (Edinburgh)