Edinburgh welcome the return of Scotland international Ross Ford for Sunday’s Heineken Cup rematch with Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium.
Ford has been absent with a calf injury since the viagogo Autumn Tests and is a welcome boost ahead of the crucial cup clash.
He packs down between Wicus Blaauw and Willem Nel, and takes on the captaincy from Greig Laidlaw, who has been replaced by Grayson Hart.
Head coach Alan Solomons said: “It’s great to have Ross back.
“He’s a very good player of international class. He’s a big strong man and comes in as part of good front row. It will be interesting to see how they go.
“It’s been difficult for Grayson, who would have played earlier in the season were it not for injury, after which Sean Kennedy and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne stepped up and did very well. He’s had to keep working hard and wait for this chance. It’s a similar story with Wicus, who has put in a lot of extra hours through the recent break and I think he is now ready to start at this level.
“He has proved in the past what he is capable of. He was a very good Super Rugby player for the Stormers and I think he’s ready for it. They’re both champing at the bit to get this opportunity.”
Solomons has also opted to reintroduced Roddy Grant and Argentine internationalist Tomas Leonardi at flanker, while Joaquin Dominguez steps into midfield in place of centre Nick De Luca.