Mike Blair will lead Scotland from scrum-half © Getty Images

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Mike Blair will captain Scotland against New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday, the Scottish Rugby Union confirmed on Tuesday.

With Alastair Kellock injured, Glasgow's Richie Gray came into the second row for his first start and Edinburgh scrum-half Blair took over the captaincy in five changes to the starting XV from Scotland's last Test five months ago, the 13-9 win over Argentina in June.

Blair assumed the No.9 jersey from Rory Lawson, who was named on the bench, with wing Rory Lamont, prop Euan Murray and No.8 Richie Vernon also named in the starting line-up.

Kellock was captain in Scotland's 2-0 Test series win over Argentina in June but was not considered for the All Blacks encounter due to injury. His place is taken by Gray, who has made three substitute appearances, and, like his Glasgow team-mate Vernon, will make his first start.

Their fellow Glasgow Warriors Johnnie Beattie and Chris Cusiter were unavailable due to injury, while Gloucester's Alasdair Strokosch, Ulster's Simon Danielli and Edinburgh duo Nick De Luca and Phil Godman were also absent.

Kellock, Beattie and Danielli all started Scotland's last game, the victory over the Pumas in Mar del Plata on June 19, while Strokosch, Godman and De Luca were on the bench.

Murray, preferred at tight-head prop to Moray Low, and Rory Lamont - selected on the opposite wing to brother Sean - return after missing the Argentina series with ankle and knee injuries, respectively, while Nathan Hines was named on the bench after being excused from the summer tour while on compassionate leave.

Chris Paterson, Scotland's most-capped player and record points-scorer with 752 points, was fit again following a kidney injury suffered against Wales in the RBS 6 Nations in February, but did not make the final squad of 22 from the 33-man training group.

Glasgow fly-half Ruaridh Jackson was named on the bench and could make his debut, while Edinburgh flanker Ross Rennie has recovered from knee problems and is in contention to add to the one cap he has won to date - against Ireland in 2008.

In 27 Tests since 1905, Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks. Scotland have lost 25 matches and drawn twice, each time at Murrayfield - 0-0 in 1964 and 25-all in 1983.

The All Blacks enter the second match of their bid for a Home Nations clean sweep having defeated England 26-16 at Twickenham last Saturday. However, Robinson's side are full of confidence following a strong showing in the 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship and Scotland's first southern hemisphere series success. Scotland are unbeaten in their last four Tests - including a draw with England and victory over Ireland - and are ranked seventh in the world.

Robinson said: "It is imperative that we front up from the first whistle against the All Blacks on Saturday and play the game at a tempo where we can unveil our skills and show our discipline, because winning the Test match is in our hands.

"We have shown our appetite to drive forward our game and our aim is to improve on our best performances last season, which we know inspired the country.

"As someone who loves his rugby it's been a real thrill to watch many of New Zealand's games this year and, for me, it's important that this month the Scotland team earn the respect of the southern hemisphere by the qualities we bring to bear."

Scotland team: H Southwell (Stade Francais); R Lamont (Toulon), M Evans (Glasgow Warriors), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), S Lamont (Scarlets); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors) J Hamilton (Gloucester), K Brown (Saracens), R Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Dickinson (Gloucester), N Hines (Leinster), R Rennie (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), N Walker (Ospreys).