The 5 players Edinburgh could bring back for Glasgow clash

Edinburgh could have five players back in their ranks for Saturday’s crunch match with Glasgow.

Head coach Mike Blair could have two hookers back fit in Dave Cherry and Stuart McInally while winger Darcy Graham has shaken off a quad injury and centre James Lang is making good progress in his return from a knee problem.

Marshall Sykes has served two games of a three-match ban but the suspension could be reduced on appeal.

Blair said: “We have a few who will be close – our hookers, Darcy, James Lang and Marshall Sykes are all looking relatively positive for us.”

Edinburgh lost their unbeaten record at the DAM Health Stadium when they suffered two consecutive defeats against Ulster and European Challenge Cup opponents Wasps but Blair feels they have benefited from a weekend off.

“We played seven weekends in a row and had some injuries but we have talked all season about injuries or illness creating opportunities for others,” he said.

“We trust the guys in the squad and try to work well as a whole squad rather than just a match-day 23 and try to upskill everyone and keep everyone in the selection picture as well.

“For everyone who pulls on the jersey, we expect them to step up and do a good job for us.”

Edinburgh and Glasgow are locked on 50 points in the United Rugby Championship and the winners of Saturday’s final game of the regular season will clinch a Heineken Champions Cup spot next season.

They will also get a slightly less challenging URC quarter-final with the losers destined to face Leinster away, while the 1872 Cup is up for grabs with Warriors 13 points ahead following their first-leg win in March.

With so much up for grabs the game has been moved to BT Murrayfield and about 20,000 tickets have already been sold.

Blair said: “The guys love playing at Murrayfield as well. It’s a great opportunity. We have obviously got some internationals in our team but we have some guys who haven’t played that real Test-match intensity at BT Murrayfield. So that will be great for them.

“Obviously the bigger crowd we get, hopefully the more support we get behind us, the more noise, the more of an occasion it becomes.”