Preview: Portugal To Find Gregor Townsend's Scotland Too Hot To Handle

Scotland are seeking a first win over Portugal on foreign soil as they bid to make it an impressive nine victories in a row under Gregor Townsend.

Over 4,000 travelling supporters will descend on Lisbon for the clash at the Estadio Nacional, where Townsend will field a strong side showing 10 changes from the one that beat Argentina 29-6 at Murrayfield last weekend.

Townsend said: "Portugal are a very good side. They had an excellent World Cup and were very unlucky not to get out of the pool. They qualified for the quarter-finals of the last World Cup and they are also a very good attacking side. They caused France a lot of problems recently."

Scotland are without several players through injury, including captain Stuart Hogg but Stafford McDowall, Cameron Redpath, Matt Fagerson and Rory Sutherland all return to the starting XV.

Townsend added: "We are going to have to be at our very best to beat them and we are fully expecting a tough game but it is another chance for us to improve and get better as a team."

Portugal have lost their last three matches, including a 33-29 defeat by Romania in Bucharest last weekend.

Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet said: "Scotland are a very good team and they are also very experienced. They have a lot of players who play in the English Premiership and the French Top 14 so they are used to playing at a high level."

The match is a sell-out and will be played in front of a capacity crowd of 33,000.