Edinburgh v Ulster: Teams

Edinburgh captain Mike Blair has been controversially dropped from the side for Sunday's must-win Magners League encounter against Ulster.

Scotland co-captain Blair, who will start on the bench, has been replaced at scrum-half by Greig Laidlaw in one of three changes to the team beaten heavily at Newport-Gwent Dragons last weekend.

Blair's omission continued head coach Rob Moffat's trend of rotating his squad since succeeding Andy Robinson last season.

But it will raise eyebrows, with Edinburgh likely to need victories in their final two games of the regular season to have a realistic chance of making the play-offs.

Flanker Roddy Grant will wear the captain's armband this weekend after being recalled following an injury to Ross Rennie (hamstring).

Demand

Scotland centre Nick De Luca will make his first appearance since the RBS Six Nations after recovering from a groin injury, with wing Simon Webster ruled out due to an Achilles problem.

Ben Cairns switches to full-back and Jim Thompson drops to the bench.

Moffat said of Grant: "Roddy has been one of our most consistent players this season. He sets high standards for himself and I believe he will demand that of others.

"As a coach, you are always looking for leaders, people who are willing to accept responsibility, and Roddy has those characteristics in droves."

Grant said: "I'm proud to have been asked to lead the team but Sunday is about the entire Edinburgh squad setting out our stall and putting in a performance that means we can still strive for that play-off place."

Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin has named full-back Jamie Smith his starting XV to face Edinburgh.

Strong

Smith assumes the No.15 jersey with Simon Danielli moving to the wing. With Danielli back in position, Nevin Spence drops to the bench. Niall O'Connor starts at out half, with Ian Humphreys beginning the Magners clash as a replacement.

In the pack, a front row re-shuffle sees Captain Rory Best start as hooker, with BJ Both as tight head prop. Andy Kryicaou is named as a replacement, while Declan Fitzpatrick is rotated to the Ravens Team ahead of their British and Irish Cup semi final against Munster A, this Saturday at Thomond Park.

Dan Tuohy is called up to the second row in place of Ryan Caldwell. A fully fit Stephen Ferris will start at No.6, with Willie Faloon as open side flanker.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Scotland, McLaughlin said: "We are all very positive heading to face Edinburgh. We have played them quite a few times this season; the last time at Ravenhill we gained the points.

"In September, when we faced them in the league, we were narrowly defeated by three points. We had a really strong first half, but just couldn't sustain it, and that's been our problem over the last number of games, doing well early on, but just unable to sustain it until the final whistle.

Edinburgh: 15 Ben Cairns, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 John Houston, 11 Mark Robertson, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Greig Laidlaw; 1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Geoff Cross, 4 Scott MacLeod, 5 Jim Hamilton, 6 Alan MacDonald, 7 Roddy Grant (capt), 8 Dave Callam.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Fraser McKenzie, 19 Scott Newlands, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Andrew Turnbull, 22 Jim Thompson.

Ulster: 15 Jamie Smith, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Paul Marshall; 1 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best (capt), 3 BJ Botha, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 5 Dan Tuohy, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Willie Faloon, 8 Robbie Diack. Replacements: 16 Andy Kyricaou, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 TJ Anderson, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Nevin Spence.