"Jamie is a good rugby player who adds a lot of value regardless of where we play him in the back-line," explained Smith in The Scotsman. "Sebastian Cancelliere is still in the process of recovery [from his knee injury] and it was important to also give Kyle Steyn a little bit of time away after starting all five matches in the Six Nations.
"Josh McKay is also injured so we are beginning to get short of options on the wing, and we know that Jamie is a good enough player to adapt.
"But I also like to purposely move the No 9s to the wing so that if something happens to the guy that comes on you still have a quality scrum-half on the field. That's why George Horne is often moved to the wing in the second part of games. I did the same at Cheetahs and Benetton in the past.
"Jamie has proven he's a real threat when he's moved there mid-game in the past, and the main benefit of it is that it gives you another good passing option from wide which liberates you No 9 a little bit and gives you am extra edge around the park. This is a good opportunity to see that happening."
Club captain Kyle Steyn has been given the weekend off but the Fagerson brothers - Zander and Matt - both start despite featuring heavily in Scotland's Six Nations campaign.
"Zander hasn't played much rugby in the last year due to injury, and having now played four games for Scotland he’s getting back into form," said Smith. "In the management plan of the players for the next two weeks it's important we get the balance between in-form players and those finding form.
"Matt didn't start the last game against Italy and got 30 minutes at the end of that match, so he is ready to go again. They will have a little bit of time away before the end of the season, but their character forms a big part of the pack's quality so it's good to have them ready and keen to contribute this weekend."