SOLOMONS EXPECTING A TOUGH TIME IN SWANSEA

EDINBURGH travel to Swansea tonight in a far healthier position than inter-city rivals Glasgow. Six points off the coveted top four, and with the potential to dent the Ospreys’ title challenge, the capital club have a real chance of making the Pro12 play-offs for the first time. After Ospreys comes Scarlets, and then Connacht. Difficult fixtures, for sure, but victories in these would propel Alan Solomons’ side towards the top of the table. However, the South African doesn’t have the luxury of a plethora of returning Scotland internationals like Gregor Townsend for Glasgow’s visit of Munster. His Scottish front row of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and WP Nel have all been retained by national head coach Vern Cotter, with John Hardie, Stuart McInally and Rory Sutherland also unavailable. But there is good news. Grant Glichrist is fit enough to make the bench alongside Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who is itching for a chance to improve on his short showing for Cotter’s side in the defeat to Wales in Cardiff. The recently re-signed Tom Brown will play on the wing, completing a back-three with Dougie Fife and Greig Tonks. Alan Dell and John Andress are the two changes in the pack as Edinburgh pick a back row of Hamish Watson, Cornell du Preez and Jamie Ritchie. They will have to cope with an Ospreys back row containing rising star Sam Underhill and Wales tackling machine Dan Lydiate. Solomons (left) said: ‘This week will be an even tougher test against a powerful Ospreys team playing at home, and we need to rise to the task.’ Blair Kinghorn, fresh from starring for an unbeaten Scotland Under-20s side in their Six Nations tournament, makes the final spot on the bench. EDINBURGH: G Tonks, D Fife, M Allen, S Beard, T Brown, P Burleigh, S Kennedy, A Dell, N Cochrane (capt), J Andress, A Bresler, B Toolis, J Ritchie, H Watson, C Du Preez. Replacements: G Turner, G Sheills, S Berghan, G Gilchrist, M Bradbury, S Hidalgo-Clyne, C Dean, B Kinghorn. Live on BBC 2 (kick-off 7.05pm)