Ryan Grant was handed a Scotland call-up yesterday after walking free from a serious assault charge.
The case against the Glasgow star was found not proven by a jury at the city's sheriff court last week. Now the former soldier could go straight into Vern Cotter's starting line-up for the Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday.
Grant had been accused of attacking Glasgow Hawks skipper Ally Maclay in a fast food shop in October 2013 following a Halloween party. His team-mate Ryan Wilson was fined £750 after being convicted of landing the punch that left Maclay with a smashed eye socket.
Immediately after the verdict, Wilson was suspended by the SRU pending a disciplinary hearing, which is due to take place within the next few days. A panel will decide if his pro contract with the SRU and Glasgow should be terminated for gross misconduct.
It is understood Grant was one of a group of Warriors players who were subject to disciplinary action more than a year ago for breaching club rules on the night Maclay was injured.
Kirkcaldy-born Lions tourist Grant, 29, will link up with the rest of the Scotland squad at BT Murrayfield today.
Meanwhile, France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has recalled eight players to his squad for next weekend's Stade de France encounter following a round of Top14 league matches.
Lock Alexandre Flanquart, back-rowers Yannick Nyanga and Wenceslas Lauret, centres Remi Lamerat and Gael Fickou, full-backs Sofiane Guitoune and Brice Dulin and wing Noa Nakaitaci are all back in.
Dulin impressed for Racing Metro in their win over Lyon on Saturday, while many were surprised that Lauret and Fickou were released from the squad last week after some impressive showings in recent weeks.
On the downside for the French, scrum-half Sebastian Tillous-Borde, No8 Louis Picamoles and centre Alexandre Dumoulin have been ruled out through injury.
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