Cusiter has come on as a replacement in the previous four games

Chris Cusiter comes in at scrum-half, with Gordon Ross in at fly-half and hooker Scott Lawson also included.

They replace Mike Blair, Dan Parks and Dougie Hall respectively.

It will be the first starts in this season's Six Nations Championship for Cusiter, who plays for the Borders, and Ross, who plays for Leeds Tykes.

Explaining his selection, Hadden said: "Given where we are at in this season's championship I feel it appropriate to look at the squad and both Chris and Gordon deserve the opportunity to start.

"Both need to be seen, particularly when you look ahead to next year and the World Cup.

"At hooker I have opted for Scott Lawson. Dougie Hall continues to recover from a shoulder injury he sustained against Ireland and he should be fine. I have added the experienced Steve Scott to our wider squad."

The Scots have struggled with their line-out throughout the tournament but Hadden is confident his side will get it right.

"We won 23 out of 30 last weekend and obviously we are not happy with that," he added.

"But one of the throws was given as not being straight which was completely wrong and there was a free-kick which shouldn't have been given as well, so a fairer reflection would probably be 25 out of 30.

"That is 83%, which is Scotland's average over the last few years, but the problem was Ireland's line-out was so excellent that we lost that critical 'game within the game'.

"There's no doubt that it is an area that we will have to work on but I am really confident that the guys involved, Scott Murray, Shade Munroe and George Graham are giving this task the commitment to ensure the progress and development of what is essentially a young side."

Murray will win a record-equalling 75th cap against the Italians, drawing level with Gordon Bulloch.

Scotland: Southwell; Paterson, Di Rollo, Henderson, S Lamont; Ross, Cusiter; Kerr, Lawson, Douglas; Hines, Murray; White (capt), Taylor, Hogg.
Replacements: Hall, C Smith, Kellock, Petrie, Blair, Parks, Webster.