Jack Dempsey heads the Glasgow contingent after recovering from the bicep injury he sustained against England in round two. The number eight returns to continue an impressive season that has already seen him nominated for the Investec Player of the Year award, following a series of powerful performances for the Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup.
He is joined in the back row by fellow Warriors Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge, with the latter currently leading the championship for turnovers won, having claimed eight across the opening three rounds.
An all-Glasgow second-row pairing sees Gregor Brown shift back into the engine room after starting on the blindside flank in Cardiff a fortnight ago. He partners the ever-present Scott Cummings for Saturday's clash with Les Bleus.
Behind the scrum, Kyle Steyn takes his place on the left wing in the number 11 jersey, with the Glasgow captain having beaten more defenders than any other player across the first three rounds of the competition.
Sione Tuipulotu once again captains Scotland from inside centre, continuing his midfield partnership with Huw Jones.
Among the replacements, a pair of Warriors provide prop cover. Zander Fagerson moves to the bench after starting each of Scotland's opening three fixtures, while Rory Sutherland also waits in reserve for his chance in front of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield crowd this weekend.
George Horne completes the Glasgow representation, with the scrum-half named as one of two backs among the substitutes selected by Townsend and his coaching staff.
Scotland
15 Blair Kinghorn - Toulouse (63)
14 Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby (53)
13 Huw Jones - Glasgow Warriors (61)
12 Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors (36) - Captain
11 Kyle Steyn - Glasgow Warriors (31)
10 Finn Russell - Bath Rugby (92) Vice-captain
9 Ben White - Toulon (34)
1 Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby (47)
2 George Turner - Harlequins (53)
3 D'arcy Rae - Edinburgh Rugby (5)
4 Gregor Brown - Glasgow Warriors (15)
5 Scott Cummings - Glasgow Warriors (48)
6 Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors (62)
7 Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors (37) Vice-captain
8 Jack Dempsey - Glasgow Warriors (31)
Substitutes
16 Ewan Ashman - Edinburgh Rugby (33)
17 Rory Sutherland - Glasgow Warriors (46)
18 Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors (79)
19 Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby (86)
20 Freddy Douglas - Edinburgh Rugby (1)
21 Josh Bayliss - Bath Rugby (15)
22 George Horne - Glasgow Warriors (43)
23 Tom Jordan - Bristol Bears (15)