Head coach Michael Bradley has made just one personnel change for tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues at the City Stadium (kick-off 8pm, SKYSPORTS red button).
Versatile forward Sean Cox moves from the blind-side flank to second-row with young lock, Grant Gilchrist, ruled out with a shoulder injury.
The gap in the back-row is filled by Stuart McInally, who starts at number 8, while David Denton returns to the blind-side flank position he has operated alongside McInally for most of this season.
Edinburgh Rugby centre James King
The club’s all-international front-row of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross takes to the pitch once more following an impressive set-piece and open-play display against Aironi last weekend, while the capital club’s back-line – which produced six of the seven tries scored in the 50-10 win – is unchanged.
Speaking ahead of the club’s departure for Cardiff, Edinburgh Rugby centre, James King, said: “The week has gone really well. We’ve prepared well leading up to the game, have put a lot of work in and are looking forward to tomorrow’s game.
“It was good for our confidence to run in a few scores against Aironi and see the training moves come together in the match. We’ll certainly take some self-belief from that though we know it’ll be another big step up this weekend.”
Commenting on the double-header nature of Heineken Cup rounds three and four, which sees Cardiff return to Murrayfield the following Friday, King added: “We’re obviously playing Cardiff home and away but we’re certainly not looking past this weekend. Friday night is right upon us and that’s the most important thing at the moment.”
Edinburgh Rugby team to play Cardiff Blues in round three of the Heineken Cup (Pool 2) at the Cardiff City Stadium this Friday (9 December, kick-off 8pm) - This match is available to watch on SKYSPORTS red button
15 Chris Paterson
14 Lee Jones 13 Nick De Luca 12 James King 11 Tim Visser
10 Harry Leonard 9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
1 Allan Jacobsen 2 Ross Ford 3 Geoff Cross 4 Sean Cox 5 Esteban Lozada 6 David Denton 7 Roddy Grant 8 Stuart McInally
Substitutes 16 Steve Lawrie 17 Kyle Traynor 18 Jack Gilding 19 Steven Turnbull 20 Ross Rennie 21 Mike Blair 22 John Houston 23 Tom Brown
Not available through injury: Ben Cairns (knee), Grant Gilchrist (shoulder), Andrew Kelly (knee), Alan MacDonald (shoulder), Matt Scott (hip), Jim Thompson (knee)
Head coach Michael Bradley has made just one personnel change for tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues at the City Stadium (kick-off 8pm, SKYSPORTS red button).