5 DERBY-DAY BATTLES TO SAVOUR...
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne v Ali Price
Edinburgh No 9 Hidalgo-Clyne was unlucky not to be picked by Gregor Townsend for the autumn Test series. Getting the better of Price, who started in all three matches, will put him back in the frame for Six Nations selection. It’ll be an intriguing match-up and the passionate Price won’t hold back.
Blair Kinghorn v Ruaridh Jackson
Jackson starts at full-back for Glasgow because of Stuart Hogg’s hip injury, which has ruled him out of both derby games. He is a safe pair of hands but doesn’t have the pace he once had to run from deep. At 20, Kinghorn has huge potential and is tipped to win a Scotland cap sooner rather than later. He will certainly make the most of the space at Murrayfield.
Jaco van der Walt v Peter Horne
The most fascinating contest on the park. The South African No 10 only signed for Edinburgh a month ago and is finding his feet. Horne is picked to start for Glasgow for the second week in a row ahead of Finn Russell. Warriors head coach Dave Rennie insists he has handed him the jersey on merit and has nothing to do with Russell leaving the club at the end of the season. Horne can expect some thumping tackles from the Edinburgh back-row unit as they try to put him off his game.
Stuart McInally v Fraser Brown
McInally scored two tries against Samoa and one against Australia to cement his place as Scotland’s first-choice hooker last month. Brown, boosted by signing a new contract extension, was injured for Scotland’s first two matches before coming off the bench against the Wallabies. The Glasgow man wants the Scotland jersey back for the Six Nations and getting the better of McInally will help his cause.
Grant Gilchrist v Jonny Gray
The men wearing the No 5 jerseys are both top-class lineout jumpers and quick around the park. Gilchrist’s career has been blighted by injury but he is starting to look back to his best. It will be a huge test for him to get the better of the Glasgow captain. Both men are looking to keep the other out of the Scotland starting-line up in the Six Nations, so this will be a bruising encounter with no quarter asked for or given.