Edinburgh v Connacht: Teams
Captain Mike Blair will lead Edinburgh's squad for the first time since January in Friday's clash with Connacht.
Last Updated: 26/03/09 5:29pm
Captain Mike Blair will lead Edinburgh's squad - containing 22 Scottish qualified players - for the first time since January during Friday's Magners League match against Connacht at Murrayfield.
Currently situated in fifth spot, Edinburgh will be aiming to replicate the team's previous two Magners League displays at home which saw the team from the Scottish capital record eye-catching victories over both Glasgow and Ulster.
Blair, alongside Chris Paterson, Nick De Luca, Phil Godman, Ross Ford and Jim Hamilton, is one of five players returning directly from Six Nations duty and the 27-year-old believes Edinburgh can use the game as a springboard to finish the campaign with a flourish.
"It is good to be back playing for Edinburgh. We are keen to generate some momentum and that starts with the Connacht match," Blair said.
"There are six games remaining and we believe that all six are winnable matches.
"With it being such a tight league, if we can achieve that goal then we can finish near the top end of the championship."
Fresh from helping the Scotland Sevens team win the IRB World Cup Sevens Plate in Dubai, Andrew Turnbull will start on the wing in a back division containing seven players who featured at Test level during the Six Nations.
Up front, prop Kyle Traynor retains his place in the front row to make his fourth start alongside Ford and Geoff Cross, who has recovered from a knee injury.
In the back row, Scott Newlands replaces club captain Simon Cross, who is unavailable because of a back injury while Matt Mustchin (ankle) is named amongst the replacements after a two-month lay-off.
Prop Gavin Kerr has shaken off a troublesome back injury to claim his spot on the bench alongside utitlity back John Houston who has recovered from a groin injury.
Connacht have made two changes and one positional switch ahead of their tough trip to Edinburgh
Kieran Campbell starts at scrum-half while Michael Swift is recalled to the second row with Andrew Browne reverting to the backrow.
Tim Donnelly (knee), John Hearty, Michael Roberts (both hip), Michael McCarthy (foot) and Niva Ta'auso (leg) all remain sidelined.
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Andrew Turnbull, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Simon Webster, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Scott Newlands, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Craig Hamilton, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Kyle Traynor
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Scott MacLeod, 19 Matt Mustchin, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 John Houston
Connacht:15 Troy Nathan, 14 Liam Bibo, 13 Gavin Duffy, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Kieran Campbell; 1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Robbie Morris, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Andrew Farley, 6 Andrew Browne, 7 Ray Ofisa, 8 John Muldoon (c).
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 David Gannon, 19 Johnny O'Connor, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Andrew Dunne, 22 Mel Deane