HARDIE FUTURE UP IN THE AIR

JOHN HARDIE’S future at Edinburgh is in the balance as incoming head coach Richard Cockerill ponders whether to offer him a new deal. Cockerill is still considering if he should keep the Scotland specialist openside as understudy to first-choice seven Hamish Watson or let him go for a fee to strengthen other positions — such as centre. Bath’s Robbie Fruean has been in the capital for a medical, although coaches at the English giants now want to keep him at The Rec. Hardie will be on the bench against Newport Gwent Dragons at Myreside tonight in his first match back since injuring his knee against France in January. The 28-year-old, whose two-year deal runs out at the end of the season, will hope to get a decent amount of game time to impress Cockerill, currently acting head coach of Toulon. Sportsmail understands the Englishman has had a hand in picking the Edinburgh team for tonight’s game, with hooker George Hunter, 24, receiving his first start of the season after Cockerill wanted to see him in action. The capital club, who have lost their last nine matches, come up against a Dragons side with an even worse record of ten straight defeats. ‘We see the match as a big opportunity to make amends for recent results,’ said Edinburgh’s acting head coach Duncan Hodge.