The Glasgow scrum-half and his Edinburgh rival were named as joint captains of their country last week, and it is Cusiter who will have the honour of leading Scotland out at Murrayfield in the first of their three autumn internationals.
The 2005 Lion missed out on a place on this year's tour of South Africa, while Blair won an early call up after Ireland's Tomas O'Leary was ruled out through injury.
But while it was Blair who was given the nod from the Lions selectors six months ago, it is now Cusiter's time to gain the upperhand in a positional battle that has dominated Scottish selection in recent seasons.
Cusiter, who made five appearances for the Lions four years ago, is joined in the starting XV by 2009 Lions Ross Ford and Nathan Hines, with Blair named alongside 2005 Lion Jason White on the replacements bench.
Fellow Lion Euan Muarry is still not available for selection following the ankle injury that brought his summer tour of South Africa to a premature end.
New Scotland coach Andy Robinson, himself a Lion as a player and a coach, has chosen six players from Glasgow Warriors in his starting XV, with three Edinburgh stars also included and one each from fellow Magners League outfits Ulster, Leinster and the Scarlets.
Toulon full back Rory Lamont, Gloucester flanker Alasdair Strokosch and Worcester centre Alex Grove are the only non-Magners League players to earn a starting spot, with 21-year-old Grove the only new cap in the side.
"We have selected a side that's full of power - that has the pace but also has the skill level to break down the Fijians," said Robinson, who took over from Frank Hadden as Scotland boss in June of this year having previously spent two seasons in the Magners League with Edinburgh.
"Fiji are above us in the IRB rankings. They are a very dangerous team to play against. They are a very strong, powerful side who also hit very hard. We have to match fire with fire."
Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield, Saturday, November 14, kick off 2.30pm
Rory Lamont (Toulon); Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) Simon Danielli (Ulster); Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
Not considered through injury: Ben Cairns, Alasdair Dickinson, Max Evans, Jim Hamilton, Ruaridh Jackson and Euan Murray
