CHRIS Fusaro is back in the Glasgow Warriors starting line-up for the first time since April as PRO12 action returns to Scotstoun tonight. Head coach Gregor Townsend has to do without 14 of his players who are absent on Scotland duty - nine will start against Georgia at Rugby Park tomorrow, with another five on the bench - but he still has a lot of experience to call on for the match against Ospreys.

As well as Fusaro, Townsend welcomes Josh Strauss back for his return from injury - the big No 8, who will captain the Warriors, has been a part of the Scotland squad over the past fortnight but was unable to play against Australia or Argentina. Gordon Reid and Tim Swinson also come back from international duty in the front and second rows respectively, while Ryan Grant is on the bench.

“Welcoming Chris Fusaro and Ryan Grant back after injury is a real boost,” Townsend said, “They have both worked very hard to get back to full fitness and their inclusion will lift the side for what is going to be a huge challenge against Ospreys.” The Warriors are fourth in the table, equal on points with third-placed Ospreys.

Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has made five changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s third and final Autumn Test, going for the strength and experience he expects will be needed to see off the Georgian challenge up front. There are four alterations in the pack from the group that began last week’s win over Argentina: Ross Ford returns at hooker, Richie Gray is back at second row after injury, and Warriors duo Rob Harley and Ryan Wilson are in the back row. The only change among the backs sees Mark Bennett replace Huw Jones, who injured a foot last week and will be out of action until the New Year.

On the bench, Ali Price continues as back-up scrum-half in the absence of Warriors team-mate Henry Pyrgos, who has what Cotter called “a slight bone bruise” and should be back in a couple of weeks. Rory Hughes returns as a substitute in place of Tim Visser.

Bennett is clearly eager to make an impact on his return to the team after not being involved in either the loss to Australia or the win over Argentina, but he accepts that he may have to wait patiently for some time. “It’s about controlling tempo,” he said. “We know the shape and structure that we want to get into.

“We can’t go in thinking that it’s going to be an easy game. Georgia are a good side. They have a good backline, they really do.”

Glasgow Warriors (v Ospreys at Scotstoun tonight, 7.35pm): P Murchie; S Lamont, N Grigg, S Johnson, L Jones; R Clegg, G Hart; G Reid, C Flynn, D Rae, T Swinson, B Alainu’uese, L Wynne, C Fusaro, J Strauss. Substitutes: P MacArthur, R Grant, A Nicol, R McAlpine, L Haupeakui, G Horne, P Kelly, J Bulumakau.

Scotland (v Georgia at Rugby Park, tomorrow, 2.30pm): S Hogg (Glasgow); S Maitland (Saracens), M Bennett, A Dunbar, T Seymour; F Russell (all Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester); A Dall, R Ford (both Edinburgh), Z Fagerson (Glasgow), R Gray (Toulouse), J Gray, R Harley (both Glasgow), H Watson (Edinburgh), R Wilson (Glasgow). Substitutes: F Brown, A Allan (both Glasgow), M Low (Exeter), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), J Barclay (Scarlets), A Price, P Horne, R Hughes (all Glasgow).