Vern Cotter has trimmed back his Scotland squad by releasing six players back to Glasgow Warriors ahead of the weekend.

Warriors face Newport Gwent Dragons on Thursday night in the Pro 12 and can now include the national team players in their side for the trip to Wales.

Props Gordon Reid and Zander Fagerson - both named as replacements in the opening two Six Nations matches - are back at Scotstoun, as well as back rows Rob Harley and Josh Strauss.

Duncan Weir, who came off the bench to play at stand off in the Wales game, is also back in Gregor Townsend's group, along with scrum half Grayson Hart.

The move paves the way for Edinburgh loosehead prop Rory Sutherland to win his first cap from the bench in Saturday's match in Italy, with Moray Low of Exeter Chiefs set to back up WP Nel at tighthead.

Glasgow centre Peter Horne can provide fly half cover, with Ruaridh Jackson of Wasps also able to play either 10 or 15.

Cotter will name his 23 man selection on Thursday as the squad flies out to Rome in search of a first Six Nations win for two years.