There is no place in the match-day squad for inside centre Cam Redpath and No 8 Magnus Bradbury has to be content with a place on the bench as the Scotland head coach sticks with Sam Johnson and Matt Fagerson, respectively.
Loosehead prop Rory Sutherland returns to the side for the Guinness Six Nations opener after missing the autumn Tests with an oblique muscle injury.
Jonny Gray is also back in the starting line up, for the first time since March 2021, and there is a potential debutant, with the uncapped London Irish scrum-half Ben White named among the replacements.
There is a 5:3 forwards/backs split on the bench, with Sione Tuipulotu and Blair Kinghorn joining White as backline cover.
6. Jamie Ritchie
In fine form for Edinburgh and now a seasoned campaigner for Scotland. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SRU
7. Hamish Watson
Last year's Player of the Six Nations, Watson in instrumental to disrupting England's flow. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SRU
8. Matt Fagerson
Glasgow back-rower holds off the challenge of in-form Edinburgh No 8 Magnus Bradbury, who is on the bench. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SRU