The potential solution to Scotland’s perennial breakdown problem is back on the pitch at Murrayfield as Edinburgh take on Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12.
Open-side Ross Rennie has been gradually re-introduced to action after a long lay-off his second injury absence lasting a year in the last two Edinburgh games and starts against the Irishmen as Edinburgh go for a fourth successive home win.
Coach Alan Solomons is cautious as usual, but keen to see the 20-times capped Scotland player who suffered a shoulder injury in the Autumn Test against New Zealand in 2012 fit and firing.
“We reintroduced Ross, with 15 minutes in his first game against Zebre followed by a full half against Ulster and I think a player of his calibre and experience, having had those two games, is ready to start,” he said.
“We need to see what he can do as a starter, so it’s a great opportunity for Ross to show us what he is capable of.”
Skipper Greig Laidlaw, Nick De Luca, Alasdair Dickinson and David Denton return straight from Scotland duty into the team but Ross Ford (calf) and Grant Gilchrist (shoulder) have to sit out.
“Connacht are always a difficult side,” continued Solomons.
“They were very unlucky to lose against Leinster and my experience is that they are always a tricky side to play and funnily enough they are like that home or away.
Connacht’s last away win was at Murrayfield in April, but they’ve yet to pick up a point away from Galway this season.