EDINBURGH wing Damien Hoyland will make his first start for Scotland against Japan on Saturday after Vern Cotter announced his team.

Hoyland comes in for the injured Tim Visser, while Ruaridh Jackson, Matt Scott, Stuart McInally and Jonny Gray are further changes from the team that faced Ireland in the final Six Nations match in March.

The 22-year-old Hoyland was delighted to have the opportunity to impress when the Scots take on the Brave Blossoms at 11:20am on Saturday.

Read more: Stuart Hogg hopes to pressurise Japan into kicking

He said: "I just saw my name up on the screen, just paused, looked for a bit and thought quickly about when I first started playing rugby and my ambitions to represent Scotland.The Herald: Damien Hoyland is back in the Edinburgh team for tomorrow's game against the Scarlets. Picture: SNS

"Now it is actually happening - I am getting my first start and I can't believe it. It is very, very surreal. It will definitely be emotional.

"I don't like to cry, so I will be holding it in, I imagine. I have to keep my head down, try not to get caught up in it too much and just focus on the game."

Gray returns in the place of Tim Swinson at second row, while Jackson starts at fly-half after Finn Russell was injured and Duncan Weir failed to make the tour squad.

Scott replaces Alex Dunbar at centre, while a minor calf problem for Ross Ford has given McInally a chance to impress from the start.

Vern Cotter said: "I thought 'Jacko' did some good things during the Six Nations and deserved an opportunity to turn out at 10.

"Damien Hoyland also gets a run on the wing. It is exciting to see talent come through the ranks and push for a place in the starting team.The Herald: Scotland coach Vern Cotter. Picture: SNS

"He was with us pre-World Cup and trained well. He kicked on from there, credit to him. He could have sat back and been disappointed but he did the right thing, worked hard and improved his game.

"He is with us now and it's a great opportunity for him. He has a lot to work on but he has good feet and does score tries, he is a good attacking player as we have seen through sevens. He will provide line breaks and give us go-forward.

"(Japan) have shown they have depth in their squad. They have had a number of injuries but with a number of changes managed to beat Canada in Canada. They are a team that plays with confidence," he said.

"They have a certain way of playing that is effective. Once they get over the gain line they take the ball close to the advantage line, work both sides of the rucks and can move the ball out wide.

"They are hard to get the ball off because they are very quick to breakdowns - they are a fast, mobile team, we know that."

SCOTLAND: 15 Hogg, 14 Seymour, 13 Taylor, 12 Scott, 11 Hoyland, 10 Jackson, 9 Laidlaw; 1 Dickinson, 2 McInally, 3 Nel, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Barclay, 7 Hardie, 8 Wilson