Centre John Leslie is the only notable absentee from Scotland's training squad for the Six Nations.

The New Zealand-born player is involved in contract negotiations with Japanese club Sanix, prior to joining Newcastle Falcons at the end of January.

Leslie's name has been tabled as a possible successor as captain to Gary Armstrong, who retired at the end of the 1999 World Cup.

Included in coach Ian McGeechan's training squad are Northampton tight-head prop Mattie Stewart and Glasgow Caledonians scrum-half Andy Nicol.

Neither player was involved with Scotland's World Cup campaign, but their domestic form has impressed earning them places at the Murrayfield training session next Monday and Tuesday.

Nicol will go head-to-head with long-time substitute Bryan Redpath for the number nine berth against Italy in Rome next month.

Edinburgh Reivers skipper Graham Shiel is promoted from the Scotland A squad, while utility back Chris Paterson will attempt to prove that he has recovered from a knee injury by first training with the A squad.

Scotland training squad

Backs: D Hodge (Edinburgh Reivers), K Logan (Wasps), S Longstaff (Glasgow Caledonians), J McLaren (Borgoin), J Mayer (Bristol), G Metcalfe (Glasgow Caledonians), C Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), A Nicol (Glasgow Caledonians), C Paterson (Edinburgh Reivers), B Redpath (Narbonne), G Shiel (Edinburgh Reivers), G Townsend (Brive).

Forwards: G Bulloch (Glasgow Caledonians), G Graham (Newcastle), S Grimes (Newcastle), D Hilton (Glasgow Caledonians), M Leslie (Edinburgh Reivers), C Mather (Edinburgh Reivers), S Murray (Saracens), B Pountney (Northampton), A Reed (Wasps), S Reid (Narbonne), R Russell (Saracens), G Simpson (Glasgow Caledonians), T Smith (Brive), M Stewart (Northampton), P Walton (Newcastle), D Weir (Newcastle)