Cockerill wants to develop a winning habit as Edinburgh face tough test against Cardiff
Richard Cockerill has urged Edinburgh to start a run of success against Cardiff tonight after finally getting their campaign kick-started.
The capital club lost their first three games of the new season before bouncing back to beat S car lets last week. And Cockerill hopes that will provide the launch pad for a return to last season's form when Blues visit Murrayfield.
The Englishman said: "We were happy with a gritty and hard-earned win against Scarlet sand the boys have backed it up with a tough week of training.
"Winning gives you confidence. Winning's a habit, and we're happy that we've broken the losing streak we were in and we can continue to develop as a squad as we prepare to face a really strong Cardiff outfit.
"They' re a good side, not missing a huge amount of players to Wales, so it will be a real test for us on Monday night.
"We obviously have a large number of players unavailable due to injury or on international duty, but that gives an opp or tunit y to younger guys that will be keen to make an impact from the get-go."
Fiji an international prop Lee-Roy At alifomakesh is Edinburgh debut while winger Eroni S au returns to the starting XV after missing last weekend's match due to the birth of his child.
Nathan Chamberlain starts at stand-off with Jaco van der Walt unavailable for selection having this week returned to South Africa to get married.
David Cherry gets the nod at hooker following last week's impressive performance from the bench at Parc y Scarlets that saw him named in the Guinness Pro14 Team of the Week.
Further changes to the pack see lock Andries Ferreira make his first start for the club and paired with Jamie Hodgson in the second-row - as Lewis Carmichael and Andrew Davidson miss out through injury-while Luke Crosbie is once again fit and named at openside flanker.
With two wins from the opening four fixtures, Cardiff currently sit in second place in Conference B - four points ahead of Edinburgh.
Owen Lane will make his first start for the Welsh side since January as coach John Mulvihill makes five changes for the trip to Murrayfield.
The Wales international wing takes his place in the back three alongside A led Summer hill and Hall am Amos, who shifts to fullback, with Matthew Morgan named on the bench.
Jason Tovey replaces the injured Jar rod Evans in the No 10 jersey , while Max Llewellyn comes in at centre.
A further two changes are made in the pack, with Brad Thyer introduced at loosehead and Olly Robinson returning at openside flanker.
Mulvihill said: “We can head up to Scotland with con fidence. Despite the two losses in recent weeks, those games were decided by small margins.
“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed on the training ground. We’ve worked hard to rectify those errors throughout the week and there’s been a real positivity around the building.
“Cardiff Blues and Ed inburgh matches have been real close affairs over the last few seasons, so it’s important that we’re accurate in ever y aspect. They’re missing a few players to international duty, as are we, and it should be another feisty affair at Murrayfield.”