Scotland's Autumn Nations Series push begins under the shadow of injuries, with No.8 Jack Dempsey closing in on a competitive return to action for Glasgow next week after seven months out, just eight days before Scotland's opening game of the autumn campaign against the USA.
Townsend now faces a complex call as he weighs the risk of bringing Dempsey back too soon against the need to seed momentum and strength for a challenging schedule. The decision-making process underscores the broader strategic balance the coach must strike as Scotland targets a strong start to the series.
In the meantime, a trio of Glasgow Warriors injuries could yet clear in time for Scotland, with all three potentially playing a part in the autumn series, adding depth to a squad that's already navigating club and country duties.
