Geoff Cross will make his Glasgow Warriors debut in the rescheduled Pro12 visit by Benetton Treviso.

The Scotland prop, who recently joined on loan from Edinburgh until the end of the season as injury cover, replaces Jon Welsh at tight head.

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Fly-half Duncan Weir and scrum-half Chris Cusiter are rested after their Six Nations exertions with Scotland.

Two Italy internationals – wing Ludovico Nitoglia and centre Michele Campagnaro – miss out for Treviso.

Those two injuries contribute to the visitors’ six changes to the starting line-up following the weekend victory over Edinburgh.

That lifted Marius Goosen’s side four points clear of compatriots Zebre at the bottom of the table.

Warriors are one point behind Ospreys in the chase for a top-four finish and a place in the end-of-season play-offs after their victory over the Welsh side.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend is hopeful that they can make full use their two games in hand over Ospreys, the first coming against Treviso.

“There is no doubt that our victory over the Ospreys last weekend was one of the most important of our season,” he said.

“In terms of developing momentum as we go into the final six games, it was a massive victory and one which ultimately came down to the determination and effort from the players to get the job done.

“We are fully aware of the challenge Treviso will pose and the work rate the players put in last Friday will have to be repeated if we’re to back up last week’s win.”

Townsend expressed delight at the way Cross, who will join London Irish in the summer, had settled into the Glasgow system in his two weeks with Warriors.

The coach was also pleased to welcome Scotland internationals Al Kellock, Tim Swinson and Peter Horne back into the squad following injuries.

Horne is named among the replacements after more than nine months on the sidelines with a ligament injury.

Teams

Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie, Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell, Niko Matawalu, Ruaridh Jackson, Henry Pyrgos, Gordon Reid, Pat MacArthur, Geoff Cross, Tim Swinson, Al Kellock (Captain), Rob Harley, Tyrone Holmes, Ryan Wilson
Replacements: Kevin Bryce, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Moray Low, Leone Nakarawa, James Eddie, Peter Horne, Richie Vernon, Lee Jones.

Benetton Treviso: Luke McLean, Andrea Pratichetti, Christian Loamanu, Alberto Sgarbi, Angelo Esposito, James Ambrosini, Tobias Botes, Robert Barbieri, Paul Derbyshire, Marco Fuser, Valerio Bernabò, Antonio Pavanello (Captain), Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matteo Muccignat
Replacements: Giovanni Maistri, Alberto De Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Corniel Van Zyl, Marco Filippucci, Fabio Semenzato, Alberto Di Bernardo, Brendan Williams.