No.8 Sione Vailanu will make his first start for Glasgow Warriors as they welcome fellow EPCR Challenge Cup side Benetton Rugby in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday night.

Tonga international Vailanu, who will be hoping to add to his nine appearances in EPCR competitions when Glasgow visit Bath Rugby in their EPCR Challenge Cup Pool A opener on December 10, comes on as one of a host of changes for the Scottish region.

Lock Alex Samuel makes his Warriors debut, with Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown and Murphy Walker forming a new-look front row, while Gregor Brown is also brought in after the 40-12 defeat at Cell C Sharks a fortnight ago.

Jamie Dobie and Domingo Miotti make their first starts of the season as they form the half-back pairing, with Stafford McDowall and Kyle Steyn linking up in a refreshed midfield and Sebastian Cancelliere fit enough for a place on the wing.

Benetton have also made a string of alterations to their starting XV, with South African Rhyno Smith, who tallied 30 points in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, coming in at full-back.

Italy prop Tiziano Pasquali, Samoa No.8 Henry Time-Stowers and Kiwi lock Scott Scrafton are among the others called up by the Treviso-based side.

Friday’s other URC contest sees EPCR Challenge Cup contenders Scarlets host last season’s Heineken Champions Cup runners-up Leinster Rugby.

Wing Tom Rogers and flanker Aaron Shingler both return from injury to start for the Welsh region, with hooker Daf Hughes, scrum-half Gareth Davies and fly-half Dan Jones brought in as the other alterations following last Friday’s 36-14 loss at Connacht Rugby.

Ryan Conbeer continues on the wing for his 50th Scarlets appearance, with three of those coming in EPCR competitions.