The 25-year-old back-row forward has not played for his country since damaging his knee ligaments against Ireland last March.

But, after a loan spell at Premiership side Saracens earlier this month, the Edinburgh Gunners man has returned to full fitness.

Taylor will be a direct replacement for Jason White at flanker after the Sale Sharks player suffered a knee injury.

Scotland coach Matt Williams was delighted to welcome back Taylor for the game.

But he admitted the player had suffered a number of niggling injuries which had prevented his return sooner in the tournament.

Williams said: "Simon has been back for a long time and has been training with us since January.

"It wasn't his knee that was the problem - he had an ankle injury and a bump on his shoulder.

"We hoped we could have played him against France but he did not have enough game time. But he has not been rushed back.

"He is one of the world-class players in the tournament and you want them in your team."

Elsewhere in the squad, Simon Webster is preferred to Simon Danielli on the right wing to earn his 10th cap in his first appearance since the summer tour of Australia last summer.

Williams has also named Glasgow Warriors centre Andrew Henderson and Saracens loosehead prop Nick Lloyd among his party as additional cover for the team.

Scotland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday at Murrayfield:

C Paterson (Edinburgh); S Webster (Edinburgh), A Craig (Glasgow), H Southwell (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (The Borders); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow, capt), G Kerr (Leeds), S Grimes (Newcastle), S Murray (Edinburgh), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Hogg (Edinburgh), J Petrie (Glasgow).

Replacements: R Russell (London Irish), B Douglas (The Borders), N Hines (Edinburgh), J Dunbar (Leeds), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds), B Hinshelwood (Worcester).