Richie Gray: Fitness test later in the week

The lock is making good progress in his recovery from an ankle injury and will line up against the All Blacks if he comes through a fitness test later in the week.

Andy Robinson makes five changes from the side which finished an unbeaten summer tour with victory over Samoa, with centre Nick De Luca and scrum-half Mike Blair coming in for injured pair Joe Ansbro and Chris Cusiter.

In the pack Euan Murray, Alastair Kellock and Richie Vernon make way for Geoff Cross, Jim Hamilton and Kelly Brown, who captains the side for the first time on his 50th appearance.

Glasgow Warriors' uncapped scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, meanwhile, is among the replacements.

Robinson said: "For our first game of the season we will really need to start well and keep the game simple.

"New Zealand are the world champions and they perform the basic skills well under the highest pressure. We need to step up from the summer tour and be ready to go toe to toe in a physical contest."

Almost all 67,144 tickets are sold, and the head coach said: "Thanks to the fans for their tremendous backing. For me, there's nothing to compare to a full house on international match day."

Scotland: Hogg, Lamont, De Luca, Scott, Visser, Laidlaw, Blair, Grant, Cross, Ford, Gray, Hamilton, Strokosch, Rennie, Brown.

Replacements: Lawson, Jacobsen, Traynor, Kellock, Denton, Pyrgos, Jackson, Evans.