Argentina and Scotland begin a two-test rugby series in the northern Argentinian city of Tucuman on Saturday that will be repeated 16 months later at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The teams have been drawn in the same pool in the tournament. After this series, they're not scheduled to meet again until the World Cup, so these matches are their last chances to size each other up on the field.

Argentina beat Scotland in the 2007 quarterfinals and have won three of their four tests since then, including the previous meeting last November at Murrayfield, where the Pumas ran out 9-6 winners.

They will be hoping to build on that victory with the return of a couple of key players who missed that game.

Felipe Contepomi has recovered from a persistent injury to his left knee and will captain Argentina for the first time since November 2008.

The Toulon star will be at flyhalf in a Pumas jersey for only the second time since the 2007 World Cup.

"I'm very happy to be back after not playing here for some time," Contepomi said on the eve of his 66th cap.

"We've got to consolidate for the World Cup and take advantage of these moments because we don't have many games."

Pumas coach Santiago Phelan was glad to have back Contepomi, along with 31-test flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon, who last represented the Pumas almost a year ago to the day.

With close to a full-strength squad made up of 13 players based in France and four in England, Phelan named uncapped University de la Plata lock Mariano Galarza in the reserves.

Argentina's football team will have played its first game in the World Cup against Nigeria in South Africa just a few hours before the Pumas line up against Scotland. But the northern city of Tucuman is a rugby stronghold, and the 32,000-seat President Jose Fierro Stadium is likely to be awash with home fans.

Scotland have been in Argentina for a week preparing for the series.

The Scots split the last series in 2008, winning the second after believing they should have won the first.

They have made only enforced changes from the side which beat Ireland to end the Six Nations in March, with scrumhalf and captain Chris Cusiter and absent tighthead prop Euan Murray replaced by Rory Lawson and Moray Low respectively.

Flanker Alastair Kellock will lead the side, and Lawson was handed the vice captaincy with only his second start among 19 caps. Lawson was picked ahead of Mike Blair.

The injured Cusiter and flanker Alan MacDonald are expected to be available for the second test a week later in Mar del Plata.

Scotland will also feature one uncapped player, Lawson's cousin and fellow back Jim Thompson.

Teams:

Argentina: Martin Rodriguez, Lucas Borges, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Felipe Contepomi (Capt), Alfredo Lalanne; Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo, Manuel Carizza, Patricio Albacete, Genaro Fessia, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza, Mariano Galarza, Alejandro Campos, Agustin Figuerola, Ignacio Mieres, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Scotland: Hugo Southwell, Max Evans, Nick De Luca, Graeme Morrison, Sean Lamont, Dan Parks, Rory Lawson; Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Moray Low, Jim Hamilton, Alastair Kellock (Capt), Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie. Replacements: Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, Scott MacLeod, Alasdair Strokosch, Mike Blair, Phil Godman, Jim Thompson.

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