The injury to Darcy Graham presents Gregor Townsend with a selection headache before facing world champions South Africa on Sunday.
The four-try hero in Saturday’s win over Fiji will miss the visit of the Springboks after failing to pass head injury protocols. Kyle Rowe also remains a doubt as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
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While Blair Kinghorn, who missed the Fiji win as the match was outside the international window, is set to return, Townsend must now work out who fills his back three.
Asked about potential replacements, Townsend said: "We believe in our group that they're able to play in different positions. It's great to see that we can.
“Tom [Jordan] I don't think he's played fullback, but he's often in backfield with Glasgow. He's counter-attacked a lot from that area. He played really well.
“He's played more regularly [at fullback] than both Tom and Adam.
“We've got Blair, who plays anywhere in the backline, could easily play anywhere in the backline. That's a strong position to be in if we do have to make changes.
"We've got rugby players who can step in and make the right decisions, what they believe are the right decisions.”
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Another option open to Townsend would be deploying the versatile Jamie Dobie on the wing.
Dobie, more regularly a scrum-half, was one of the stars of the summer tour, but Townsend acknowledged facing the world champions would be a considerable step up from games against Canada and Chile.
“In the summer, what really impressed us was his ability to start on the wing and then go to scrum half.
“He's into the game, he's got a flow for that and really up to pace in the games that he played. I think twice he's winged and moved to scrum half.
“I think he'll have the ability to defend very well out there. He's got one of the best leaps in the team in terms of getting up to win kicks. And we know that's coming at the weekend.
“South Africa will put contestable kicks up on us and we've got to make sure we win more aerial battles than they do.”
Getting Dobie into his starting team may also open up the option of a 6/2 forwards-to-backs bench split when he names his team on Friday.
That announcement will come 24 hours after Rassie Erasmus names his side for Sunday’s game, but Townsend said he will not adapt his selection based on who the Springboks pick.
He said: “We don't have any intentions of changing it because of what they do.
“They've gone 5-3 a few times this year, which is very unusual.
“There is the opposition and we're aware of how good they are. But it's about us, where can we play to our strengths? And that might be 6-2, it might be 5-3, we've still got to finalise that decision.”
Townsend’s selection dilemma could be made easier if Rowe proves his fitness in training, but Scotland will manage the Glasgow man back from his hamstring injury carefully.
“I think you saw how he felt when he was injured. And I think when you feel a hamstring twinge, you think of the worst, and we were thinking of the worst too. He's in a much better place now.
“We've obviously got to make sure we don't get too excited and he doesn't get too excited and start running 100mph tomorrow! But it's a real positive that it's not going to rule him out for long.”
Townsend admitted Rowe’s early-season form was causing him a headache long before the squad met up for the Autumn Nations Series.
“The challenge that Kyle has laid down to both wingers. He has shown to them that they have to play really well.
“Kyle Steyn as well, who's been in great form, so there is a real competition in back three.”
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