6 DERBY-DAY BATTLES TO SAVOUR...
FLY-HALF Finn Russell v Jaco van der Walt
Russell will be asked to pull the strings for a Glasgow side desperate to play an uptempo game. Van der Walt did well in the first derby of the season against Peter Horne but faces a much harder test against a world-class opponent today. On his home patch, Russell will be expected to give the South African a torrid time.
OPENSIDE FLANKER Matt Smith v Hamish Watson
Watson was the Edinburgh player sacrificed when Simon Berghan was sent off after just six minutes at Murrayfield. He’ll be desperate to make a major contribution today after watching his teammates secure a heroic 18-17 win. Smith, at 21, is still learning his trade but will put his body on the line against Watson.
SCRUM-HALF Ali Price v Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
Edinburgh’s Hidalgo-Clyne will see this as his big chance to impress Gregor Townsend ahead of the Six Nations. He had slipped down the international pecking order before getting the better of Price at Murrayfield last weekend. Will have the kicking duties today and a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.
HOOKER Fraser Brown v Stuart McInally
McInally won the bragging rights by captaining Edinburgh to victory last weekend. Brown, for his part, never looked at his best after being kicked in the head by Berghan in the early stages of the match. He’ll certainly want to make a bigger impression at the scrum than he did at Murrayfield.
WINGER Niko Matawalu v Duhan van der Merwe
Fijian Matawalu replaces the injured Tommy Seymour. His natural game is in attack and, with Finn Russell set to spin the ball wide, he’ll see lots of action. Muscular Van der Merwe is yet to make an impression following an injury-hit start at Edinburgh, but will fancy his chances against an opponent vulnerable in defence.
SECOND ROW Jonny Gray v Grant Gilchrist
Warriors captain Gray was eclipsed by his Edinburgh counterpart at Murrayfield and will be desperate to win more line-out ball than he did last weekend. Gilchrist is starting to find his form again and another good performance will show he should be pencilled in for the Scotland squad for the Six Nations.