Stephen Maguire, the coaching director of Scottish Athletics, wants his fringe prospects to help steer Scotland to a respectable finish in the Indoor International at Glasgow's Emirates Arena on Saturday.
The hosts named a 26-strong squad for the meeting, with the world championship medallist Eilidh Child joined by fellow Moscow finalist Chris O'Hare and European Under-23 medallists Laura Muir and Allan Smith. Libby Clegg and Stef Reid, both Paralympic medallists, will also compete in the four-team challenge against Great Britain & Northern Ireland, the USA and a Commonwealth Select.
However, a lack of depth has led to Scotland passing up on fielding an entrant in seven events, with Maguire conceding he has a mixed group for Scotland's debut appearance.
"[Having] a Scotland [involved] team gives the event a different dynamic," said the Northern Irishman. "When you actually sit down and think about it, you look at the likes of Laura Muir, Eilidh Child, Chris O'Hare; they are as good as anything in the US or the British teams. Then you start picking through the events and you think: 'You know what, we need to go in with the attitude of doing the best we can, our top athletes absolutely challenging and the younger athletes benefiting from the experience'."
Child will face compatriot Claire Gibson, the former UK Indoor 800 metres champion from Kilbarchan, who will line up for the Commonwealth Select. David Smith, also in the Commonwealth side, faces fellow Scot Allan Smith and the Olympic medallists Robbie Grabarz and Erik Kynard in the high jump.
"It will be a sold-out Emirates Arena and it gives the team an opportunity to compete in front of a Scottish crowd which is great preparation," Maguire added.
TEAM. Scotland (Indoor International v Great Britain & Northern Ireland, USA & C'wealth Select, Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Saturday)
Men 60m: S Dunlop. 150m: R Oswald. 400m: J Bowie. 600m: G Learmonth. 1500m: C O'Hare. 3000m: M Mitchell. 60m hurdles: D Feeney. Long jump: J Carr. High jump: A Smith. 4 x 400m: J Bowie, G Louden, A Young, M Lipton, D Martin
Women 60m & 150m: K Christie. 400m: E Child. 800m: L Muir. 1500m: J Moultrie. 60m hurdles: G Werrett. Long jump: J Nimmo. Pole vault: H Paxton. 4 x 400m: E Child, G Nicol, D Ramsey, Z Clark, L Muir. T12 60m: L Clegg. T44 Long jump: S Reid
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