DAVE RENNIE had a not-so-subtle message for Finn Russell's suitors when he named his Glasgow team to take on Benetton Treviso tonight.

The talk all week has been around the future of fly-half Russell who is a big-money target for Montpellier, Racing 92, Bordeaux and Lyon as well as an unnamed club in England.

"We’re going to work really hard to keep him here, I know he loves it here," Rennie declared. "We won’t be able to throw the sort of money that France are going to throw at him, so we’re trying to create an environment here that people want to stay at and people want to come to. Ultimately, the question is probably going to be directed to Finn himself.

"There’s been a lot of talk about this for a number of months – that’s what happens with quality players. He was outstanding last week, that’s the sort of performance we want out of him every week.”

Rennie, who made nine changes to the side that hammered Munster, has opted to give Russell time off against the Italian side something he says he would not be granted were he to make the move to France.

"From a Scottish perspective, we can manage him. In France, or wherever, they want their pound of flesh for the money they pay. That’s all part of the decision-making,” Rennie added.

The player has been sporting an elaborate protective guard after breaking his nose against Munster, but Rennie insisted that had nothing to do with the decision to give Russell a rest.

He could have asked the fly half to keep playing, since he has played only three games this season. However, the Scotland team management ask the clubs they control to make sure the key players don't play more than five successive matches. If Russell had pushed that to the limit, he would have been forced to sit out a European game, so it made sense to give him the time off early and make sure he is available all through October.

Nor is Russell the only one. Rennie has made changes to the entire front row, with Fraser Brown added to the bench as he makes his comeback from injury. He also gives Tim Swinson a week on the bench and switches the back row around with Callum Gibbins out to recover from a minor rib issue and Rob Harley making his first start of the season after injury.

The way it all works out means that Rennie is getting a good look at a side that will probably bear a strong resemblance to the one he will have to field in November when the current internationalists are away.

Though he was careful to talk up all the players' cap chances, only three of the starting XV he named to face Treviso – Tommy Seymour, Peter Horne and Ryan Wilson, the captain who reverts to No8 – can have any confidence they will be selected for Scotland.

"In the competition I came from [Super Rugby], we made lots of changes every week," Rennie pointed out. "You have to create competition for places and you have to create depth.

"I don’t look at it as a risk. It’s around creating depth, providing opportunity, and creating competition. We know we’re going to be without a lot of international players in autumn and in the Six Nations. It’s just a great opportunity for us to see some of these players under pressure.

“I’ve got confidence in the full squad. If you’re planning on being successful and winning things, you won’t do it with 23 guys.”