Edinburgh v Munster: Irish province target top spot in PRO12

Munster will return to the top of the Guinness PRO12 if their much-changed side defeat Edinburgh at Myreside on Friday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm.

With a number of players unavailable due to Ireland's Six Nations opener in the Scottish capital the following day, Rassie Erasmus has been forced to make 11 changes to his starting XV as they look to leapfrog PRO12 leaders the Ospreys.

Erasmus hands a debut to 19-year-old Calvin Nash, who starts on the wing, while fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal will captain the province for the first time.

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Dave Kilcoyne, Billy Holland, Tommy O'Donnell and Rory Scannell have all been named on the bench after being released from the Ireland camp.

Munster were 25-22 winners when they last visited Myreside in the Celtic League in 2001 but Edinburgh head into Friday's game seeking a fourth successive victory.

Scotland openside John Hardie makes his return after almost three months out following ankle surgery as Duncan Hodge makes six changes to his starting line-up.

Sean Kennedy and Jason Tovey form a new half-back pairing with Phil Burleigh named at inside centre, while Jack Cosgrove and Murray McCallum start at looshead and tighthead prop respectively.

Edinburgh head coach Hodge said: "Munster are an outfit heading to Edinburgh on fine form and with a chance of going top of the table, but we've also hit a fine vein of form in recent times which gives us a lot of confidence going into the game."

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Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Sean Kennedy; 1 Jack Cosgrove, 2 Neil Cochrane (c), 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 John Hardie, 8 Cornell Du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Derrick Appiah, 18 Nick Beavon, 19 Lewis Carmichael, 20 Viliame Mata, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Michael Allen, 23 Rory Scholes.

Munster: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Dan Goggin, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal (c), 9 Duncan Williams; 1 Peter McCabe, 2 Rhys Marshall, 3 Stephen Archer, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Dave Foley, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 7 Conor Oliver, 8 Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Brian Scott, 19 Darren O'Shea, 20 Billy Holland, 21 Tommy O'Donnell, 22 Angus Lloyd, 23 Rory Scannell.