SCOTLAND coach Vern Cotter has made ten changes to his team for tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup match against the United States in Leeds - but admits there could be more to come as some players struggle to overcome injury on time.

With only four days between the opening Pool B win over Japan and this game at Elland Road, Cotter always knew he might struggle to get everyone fit on time.

World Cup rules make competing countries name their teams two days before each match, but there is nothing to stop late alterations on injury grounds.

After the 45-10 win over Japan, the stitches John Hardie needed for a cut on his right ear were the most obvious damage done to anyone in the team.

Hardie keeps his place in the back row and seems certain to be all right to face the Americans.

“There are a few knocks and bruises – and I’m sure there may be one or two more surprises before kick-off,” Cotter said yesterday after the team was announced.

“We may need to change the team one hour before the game, but we’ve announced the group which will take the field and play their part in the game.

"There are still bumps and bruises and guys who haven’t trained 100 per cent yet, so we’ll try our best, and if we have to change the team then we will change the team.”

The head coach has promoted the entire bench from the squad that beat Japan in midweek, with Glasgow’s Henry Pyrgos coming in to captain the team for the second time.

Sean Maitland starts on the right wing, Peter Horne is at inside centre and Tim Visser is on the left wing in the other alterations to the back division.

Up front, Josh Strauss makes his first start for Scotland, having made his debut off the bench in the 45-10 victory over the Japanese in Gloucester.

There is a new front row, Richie Gray replaces his brother Jonny at lock, and Alasdair Strokosch is at blindside. Visser, Strokosch and replacements Tim Swinson and Duncan Weir are the four who are new to the squad. Tommy Seymour, David Denton and Sean Lamont drop out along with Jonny Gray.

Pyrgos, who also led the side in last month’s warm-up game against Ireland, wants Scotland to dominate the Americans from kick-off. “We got exactly what we wanted against Japan, but we know the USA will come really hard at us,” the Warriors scrum-half said. “We need to get off to a fast start on Sunday.”

The US have made just one change from the team that began their 25-16 defeat by Samoa last Sunday, with Phil Tiel coming in at hooker for Zach Fenoglio. Captain Chris Wyles, who played on the wing in that match, moves to full-back, swapping places with Blaine Scully.

Scotland (v USA at Elland Road, Sunday 2.30pm): S Hogg; S Maitland, M Bennett, P Horne, T Visser; F Russell, H Pyrgos; R Grant, F Brown, J Welsh, R Gray, G Gilchrist, A Strokosch, J Hardie, J Strauss. Substitutes: R Ford, A Dickinson, W Nel, T Swinson, R Wilson, G Laidlaw, D Weir, M Scott.

USA: C Wyles; T Ngwenya, S Kelly, T Palamo, B Scully; A MacGinty, M Petri; E Fry, P Thiel, T Lamositele, H Smith, G Peterson, A McFarland, A Durutalo, S Manoa. Substitutes: Z Fenoglio, O Kilifi, C Baumann, C Dolan, J Quill, D Barrett, S Suniula, F Niua.