Nel in Scotland frame
Nel, born in Loeriesfontein, South Africa, and schooled at HTS Drostdy in the Western Cape, is one of 11 changes to the Scotland squad that will face Italy on Saturday.
The match at Stadio Olimpico in Turin is the second of Scotland's World Cup warm-outings.
Nel, who played for Western Province and Boland before moving to the Cheetahs, joined Scottish Pro12 side Edinburgh in July 2012.
Having played for Edinburgh for three years, Nel became eligible to represent Scotland in June this year.
Scotland coach Vern Cotter will test another captain and a back row as part of a rotated squad in Turin.
Second row Grant Gilchrist will skipper the squad which features 11 changes – with the new-look loose forwards to be selected from Adam Ashe, John Hardie, Alasdair Strokosch and Hamish Watson, none of whom were involved in the loss against Ireland last week.
They have replaced John Barclay, Hugh Blake, Blair Cowan and David Denton.
The remaining changes up front sees Nel, Kevin Bryce, Alasdair Dickinson, Richie Gray and Stuart McInally come in for Fraser Brown, Allan Dell, Ryan Grant, Rob Harley, and Jon Welsh.
Conversely, the backs are relatively unchanged, with uncapped duo Damien Hoyland and Rory Hughes joining the group in place of Dougie Fife and Tim Visser.
This Saturday's Test in Turin is the first of two back-to-back matches against the Azzurri, with the return leg at Murrayfield the following Saturday (August 29).
The Scotland team will then announce the final 31-man squad for World Cup, before concluding preparations against France in Paris on Saturday September 5.
Scotland squad:
Forwards: Adam Ashe, Kevin Bryce, Mike Cusack, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist (captain), Richie Gray, Jim Hamilton, John Hardie, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, Gordon Reid, Alasdair Strokosch, Hamish Watson.
Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Damien Hoyland, Rory Hughes, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont, Henry Pyrgos, Matt Scott, Greig Tonks, Richie Vernon, Duncan Weir.
Date: Saturday, August 22
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 BST; 18.00 GMT)
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Scotland's warm-up matches:
Saturday, August 15: Ireland (7) 28-22 (7) Scotland
Saturday, August 22: Italy v Scotland, Stadio Olimpico, Turin (Kick-off: 20.00; 19.00 BST; 18.00 GMT)
Saturday, August 29: Scotland v Italy, Murrayfield (Kick-off: 15.15; 16.15 Italian time; 14.15 GMT)
Saturday, September 5: France v Scotland, Stade de France, Paris, (Kick-off: 20.00; 19.00 BST; 18.00 GMT)
