The head coach plans to name two different teams for the North American leg against Canada in Ottawa on July 6 and USA in Washington six days later before cutting his 37-man party to around 30.
The Scots then fly overnight to Chile for a Test in Santiago before concluding their tour against Uruguay in Montevideo on July 27, for which Townsend will only be able to select players from Glasgow and Edinburgh - who make up 28 of the squad-as it is outside the official Test window.
Their four opponents may be ranked between 17th and 23rd in the world but given the tourists have left a dozen frontline operators at home and will be blooding 10 uncapped players, the potential for a mishap against countries intent on claiming a prized scalp appears high.
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