Scotland play the last of their three end of year tests on Saturday against Tonga at Pittodrie Football Stadium in Aberdeen. Both teams were announced yesterday with various changes being made by Scotland from the team that played the Springboks while Tonga  only made one change to their team that beat the United States last weekend.

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Scotland Team

Scrum-half Henry Pyrgos will make his first start after Scotland made five changes for Saturday’s Test with Tonga.

Alasdair Strokosch has recovered from injury to rejoin the back row, while Max Evans returns at outside centre for the Pittodrie clash.

Hooker Scott Lawson and lock Alastair Kellock are also back in the starting XV for Andy Robinson’s side.

There are four changes on the bench as the Scots aim to recover from defeats by New Zealand and South Africa.

Uncapped Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist could make his Test debut, as could 20-year-old Bath fly-half Tom Heathcote, while scrum-half Rory Lawson is included for the first time since the 2011 World Cup.

Open-side John Barclay and centre Nick De Luca are demoted to the bench after the 21-10 loss to the Springboks, while scrum-half Mike Blair, hooker Ross Ford and lock Jim Hamilton drop out altogether.

Star lock Richie Gray is fit enough to start despite suffering concussion last weekend.

“This weekend we have to put together an 80-minute performance and build on the positive parts of our games that we showed in the last 30 minutes against South Africa and the second half against New Zealand,” said Robinson.

“International rugby is about pressure and it’s important that you convert your pressure into points and when you are under pressure that you are able to absorb it, as opposed to conceding points as cheaply as we have done.

“We will not be among the top eight seeds for the 2015 World Cup draw, so this weekend I’m looking at giving a number of players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection for next year.”

Glasgow’s Pyrgos made his debut as a replacement against New Zealand and came off the bench again versus South Africa, capping an impressive display in the latter match with a fine try.

Evans, who was a second-half substitute in the 51-22 defeat to the All Blacks but did not feature against the Springboks, will be returning to the stadium where he won the first of his 31 caps four years ago.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Max Evans, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 David Denton, 7 Kelly Brown 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Ryan Grant.

Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 John Barclay, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Nick De Luca.

Tonga Team

Northland flanker Hale T-Pole replaces Leicester Tigers’ Steve Mafi in Tonga’s back row for their autumn Test against Scotland at Pittodrie.  It is the only change to coach Mana Otai’s side after their 22-13 win over the United States at Parc Eirias in Wales on Saturday.

Uncapped Marist Tonga hooker Kamaliele Sakalia is among the replacements.

Unattached former Glasgow Warriors number eight Viliami Ma’afu retains his place in Otai’s side. The 30-year-old, who was previously with Japanese side Mitsubishi, signed a two-year contract in February to join the Pro12 side in the summer. But he was released by Warriors in September, with Ma’fu citing personal reasons for his decision to depart Scotstoun, with the club immediately replacing him with South African Josh Strauss.

There are three British Isles-based players in Tonga’s starting line-up for Saturday’s match in Aberdeen – Newcastle Falcons centre Suka Hufanga, Connacht wing Fetu’u Vainikolo and London Irish prop Halani Aulika.

Llanelli lock Sione Timani joins Mafi among the replacements as Tonga seek their second win of their European tour. It kicked off with a 28-23 defeat by Italy in Rome and that was followed by a 24-13 loss to Newcastle Falcons.

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Will Helu, 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Nili Latu (Captain), 7 Hale T-Pole, 6 Tukulua Lokotui, 5 Joe Tu’ineau, 4 Halani Aulika, 3 Elvis Taione, 2 Alisona Taumalolo, 1Viliami Ma’afu.

Replacements: 16 Ilaisa Ma’asi, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Kamaliele Sakalia, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Sione Timani, 21 Viliame ‘longi, 22 Eddie Paea, 23 Alipate Fatafehi.