Edinburgh v Blues: Teams
Edinburgh will hope a change at half-back will see them gain revenge over Cardiff Blues on Friday night.
Last Updated: 16/12/11 10:36pm
Edinburgh will hope a change at half-back will see them gain revenge over Cardiff Blues on Friday night.
Edinburgh suffered their first defeat in this season's Heineken Cup after going down 25-8 to the Blues last time out.
However Michael Bradley has recalled Mike Blair at scrum-half and the versatile Greig Laidlaw at fly-half for the return fixture.
Bradley has also named lock Grant Gilchrist and No.8 Netani Talei in the pack as Edinburgh try to overhaul Cardiff's three-point lead in the pool.
On the bench, there are places for Esteban Lozada, Matt Scott and Phil Godman.
Following their comprehensive victory in the home fixture, the Blues have made just the one change.
Winger Alex Cuthbert has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and is replaced by Gavin Evans, with Dafydd Hewitt moving onto the bench.
Wales international Gavin Henson's debut for the Blues has been delayed, despite suggestions the former Ospreys, Saracens and Toulon back could be named on the bench.
Backs coach Gareth Baber has launched a staunch defence of Dan Parks, who scored 20 points in last week's 25-8 win in a display dominated by his kicking from hand.
"If you see the games we have won this year, one of the main reasons has been the control Dan puts on the game," Baber said.
"I understand the public and the press want to see an open game but at times in Europe you have to control the game away from the opposition, like Ronan O'Gara does for Munster.
"That is what Dan does for us and he was very good last week and in the previous games in the Heineken Cup. Against Racing Metro we scored two tries through using width and he was a big part of that, which shows he can mix it up.
"People don't realise that an effective kicking game from your number 10, as long as you create options around him to play, is difficult to defend.
"We have options like Jamie Roberts, Casey Laulala and Alex Cuthbert to bring into the game. Dan is just doing what I ask him to do."
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 James King, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw (capt), 9 Mike Blair, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 David Denton, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Steven Lawrie, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Esteban Lozada, 20 Ross Rennie, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Matt Scott, 23 Tom Brown.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Gavin Evans, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tau Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Tyrrell, 17 John Yapp, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Josh Navidi, 20 Maama Molitika, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.