Scotland A head coach Sean Lineen has urged his players to seize their opportunity to showcase their skills during Friday’s match against Ireland Wolfhounds at Ravenhill (5 February, kick off 7.30pm).
Lineen has selected an experienced starting line-up – containing 206 senior caps – which includes British and Irish Lions pair Mike Blair and Euan Murray.
There are also five up-and-coming uncapped players in the side, Jim Thompson, Ruaridh Jackson, Jon Welsh, James Eddie and Roddy Grant.
As a result, Lineen belives the fixture provides the perfect platform for players on the periphery of Andy Robinson’s RBS 6 Nations squad to prove a timely point.
 
Lineen said: “The players have all bought into what we are trying to achieve and they realise this is a stepping stone towards playing for Scotland in the Six Nations.
“Last year, Scotland A enjoyed a huge amount of success – including the Nations Cup triumph in Romania – and only lost one match in 2009.
“Unfortunately that result was against Ireland A, so we are keen to set the record straight and produce a positive performance in Belfast.
“All of the players involved are pushing for selection in the senior team and there is the right balance in the squad with youth and experience.
“To have two world-class players like Mike (Blair) and Euan (Murray) gives everyone a massive lift and it promises to be a good night of rugby.”
On the bench, Edinburgh flanker Fraser McKenzie could potentially make his Scotland A debut in Belfast.

Scotland A team (sponsor Murray) to play Ireland Wolfhounds at Ravenhill on Friday 5 February (kick-off 7.30pm)
15 Jim Thompson (Edinburgh)
14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys)
13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)
12 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
11 Simon Danielli (Ulster)
10 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) CAPTAIN
1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints)
4 Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh)
5 Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh)
6 James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors)
8 Scott Gray (Northampton Saints)
7 Roddy Grant (Edinburgh)
Replacements
16 Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh)
17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)
18 Craig Hamilton (Edinburgh)
19 Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh)
20 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
21 Rob Dewey (Glasgow Warriors)
22 John Houston (Edinburgh)

This article was originally posted on 3-Feb-2010, 19:58 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 3-Feb-2010, 20:12.