Like the senior team, Scotland have lost all four of their matches so far with a crushing 56-8 defeat to England last time out in Newbury.

Wright has chosen to make just one change to his side for Friday night’s clash with Italy in Stirling with Edinburgh Academicals winger Sam Atkin getting his first start of the campaign.

Kerr Grossman drops down to the bench while Heriot’s back row Lawrie Seydak makes his first appearance in the matchday squad ahead of Andy Kirkland.

“We’re under no illusions about how difficult a task winning this game will be,” said British and Irish Lion Peter Wright.

“Italy are similar to the French side who beat us on the first weekend of the championship, in that they’re big, physical and will seek to bully us.

“I’ve been reasonably happy with parts of our game over the last few matches, but reasons it’s vital that we convert that improvement into a win against the Italians.

“It would give the players real belief, and real proof, that what we’re doing is working, and that’s particularly important given what’s coming up in June, with the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy

“We want something tangible to take forward into the tournament, and beating Italy would provide that.

15 – Glenn Bryce (Heriot’s)
14 – Mike Doneghan (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
13 – Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors/Ayr)
12 – Harry Leonard (Edinburgh/Boroughmuir)
11 – Sam Atkin (Edinburgh Accies)
10 – Stuart Edwards ( Stirling County)
9 – Jamie Stevenson ( Westcombe Park)
1 – Robin Hislop (Edinburgh/Boroughmuir)
2 – David Cherry (Team Northumbria )
3 – George Hunter (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks) (captain)
4 – Mitch Eadie ( Filton College)
5 – Robert McAlpine (West of Scotland )
6 – Alex Spence (Heriot’s)
7 – Hamish Watson ( Leicester Tigers)
8 – James Tyas (Bath)

Replacements
16 – Richard Ferguson ( Melrose)
17 – Nick Fraser (Boroughmuir)
18 – Mitchell Todd ( Nottingham)
19 – Lawrie Seydak (Heriot’s)
20 – James Munro (Edinburgh Accies)
21 – Craig Jackson (Melrose)
22 – Kerr Gossman (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)