NORTHAMPTON prop Mattie Stewart wins a meteoric first cap against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday and fellow exile Andy Reed makes a miraculous comeback to Test rugby after career-threatening injury.

Elsewhere in the Scotland starting line-up, details of which were announced at Murrayfield yesterday - before the squad embarked upon a unique ``hearts and minds'' training session in Princes Street Gardens - Scott Hastings returns to win his 63rd cap and Bryan Redpath returns to the scrum half fold in place of the injured Gary Armstrong.

Hastings, dropped for the game against Australia after setting a Scottish cap record in New Zealand, will figure in his usual outside centre berth with Gregor Townsend, who played in the No.13 shirt against the Wallabies, moving to inside centre at the expense of Ronnie Eriksson.

The recall of Reed, who was out of the game for 14 months after spinal surgery and who won the last of his 10 caps against South Africa just over two years ago, is at the expense of Doddie Weir.

Mattie Stewart, 23, who comes into the side at tighthead prop in place of name-sake Barry has forged a truly lightning path to the senior side. The army physical training instructor, a lance corporal with the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, enlisted with Ian McGeechan's Northampton from Blackheath this season.

Qualified for Scotland thanks to a grandfather from Dunfermline, Stewart brings with him a reputation for rugged scrummaging. He was originally scheduled to have played for the Scotland Development XV against Queensland yesterday, and although pleased enough with that recognition was ``chuffed'' to have been named in the 21 for the Italian game.

Stewart played for the Scotland Development side against New South Wales last year, but the next logical step in his development - an A cap - was eluding him. ``Tim Rodber had been at me to go to Northampton. I decided that with Scotland I was always stopping just short of where I wanted to be. Ian McGeechan is at Northampton so I thought I would give it a go.''

Scotland coach Richie Dixon said Barry Stewart's exclusion from the starting line-up did not by any means imply he was out of the picture. ``Barry is a young prop who could not have had two tougher games for his introduction to international rugby (New Zealand and Australia). Maybe it was time for him to step back a wee bit and Saturday's game affords us the opportunity to have a look at Matt.''

The dropping of Weir who is, incredible though it seems, Scotland's currently most capped forward, allows the management to play the Wasps pairing of Reed and Damian Cronin.

Dixon said yesterday that the high command had been unhappy with Weir's work-rate against the Australians. ``I have spoken to Doddie about our misgivings and, just as you would expect him to, he has said he will take our comments on board,'' said the coach, with more than a hint that what was being administered - and not for the first time - was a very public kick up the backside.

Assistant coach David Johnston said the midfield pairing of Townsend and Hastings, with the cap-record holder playing outside the captain, offered the opportunity to take a look at yet another midfield blend.

Townsend much prefers the fly-half position but, at club and now international level, the powers-that-be consider that his singular talents are best employed at centre.This allows the Melrose club duo of Redpath and Chalmers at half back.

Saturday's game will be Redpath's first time in the starting line-up since the Five Nations last season.He missed the New Zealand tour due to a back injury and played second fiddle to Gary Armstrong on his return to fitness. He came on against Australia when Armstrong was injured and, whatever Scotland might have lost in presence and aggression around the fringes, Chalmers did seem to benefit from his club partner's crisper service.

Scotland - R Shepherd (Melrose); T Stanger (Hawick), S Hastings (Watsonians), G Townsend, captain, (Northampton), K Logan (Stirling County); C Chalmers, B Redpath (both Melrose); D Hilton (Bath), JK McKenzie (Stirling County), M Stewart (Northampton), D Cronin, A Reed (both Wasps), M Wallace (GHK), E Peters (Bath), I Smith (Gloucester). Replacements - D Stark (Melrose), R Eriksson (London Scottish), D Patterson (Heriot's FP), D Weir (Newcastle), B Stewart (Edinburgh Academicals), G Ellis (Currie).

Italy - From (forwards): O Arancio, A Castellani, C Checcchinao, W Cristofoletto, G Croci, M Cuttitta, M Giovanelli, captain, A Moscardi, C Orlandi, F Curti, A Sgorlon. Backs: M Cuttitta, D Dominguez, I Francescato, G Guidi, L Maneri, F Mazzriol, N Mazz aucato, J Pertile, A Troncon, P Vaccari.

Referee - D Gillet (France).