WP Nel comes in for banned prop Zander Fagerson in the front row alongside George Turner and Pierre Schoeman.

Scrum-half Ali Price is paired with Finn Russell at half-back.

Ben White, who has become Gregor Townsend's favoured scrum-half in 2023, limped out of last Saturday's victory against France at Murrayfield with an ankle injury and Price has been preferred to George Horne as his replacement.

Ritchie has had a calf issue but will start at blindside flanker in place of Matt Fagerson on Saturday, with Darge coming in for Hamish Watson on the openside.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will start in the centre together for Scotland for the seventh time in 2023.

Darcy Graham - so electric in last week's remarkable fightback against France - is not in the 23 so the back three comprises Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings and Blair Kinghorn at full back.

"This week is an opportunity to manage people's game time - Darcy has played in the two games - and give others an opportunity," said head coach Townsend.

"Jamie [Ritchie] was back in full training this week - he is the only player who hasn't had game time but he has coped well in the fast training we have done this week.

"WP Nel was really good off the bench last week and has trained fully throughout this pre-season, which was ahead of our expectations. He's in great condition and is highly motivated to still play for Scotland."

Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second row as Scotland build towards the World Cup opener against defending champions South Africa next month.

There is a six-two split on the bench with front-rowers Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland and Javan Sebastian joined by lock Scott Cummings and back-row forwards Sam Skinner and Josh Bayliss.

"We know some teams like to use a 6-2 split, probably our first World Cup opponents South Africa will, and it gives us an opportunity to see how it works - and we know we have flexibility in our backs," added Townsend.

After the game in St Etienne Scotland will play Georgia at Murrayfield on 19 August before Townsend names his squad for the tournament in France

Scotland team to play France

B Kinghorn; K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D van der Merwe; F Russell, A Price; P Schoeman, G Turner, W Nel; R Gray, G Gilchrist; J Ritchie, R Darge, J Dempsey.

Replacements: S McInally, R Sutherland, J Sebastian, S Cummings, S Skinner, J Bayliss, G Horne, O Smith.