PRO12: Alastair Kellock returns to captain Glasgow against Edinburgh
Last Updated: 27/12/14 2:16pm
Alastair Kellock returns to the Glasgow starting line-up for Saturday's derby against Edinburgh, live on Sky Sports.
Head coach Gregor Townsend is delighted to see his skipper back in action.
"Al has been working really hard and has been very consistent with his training," Townsend said, "He has been heavily involved in preparing for this game and his participation in the 'A' fixture on Monday was of real benefit to him to prepare for this match."
Kellock makes his 147th appearance for Glasgow on Saturday and will lead his team out in front of a packed Scotstoun Stadium.
Stuart Hogg has returned from injury to give his side a boost ahead of the first leg of the 1872 Cup as he replaces Peter Murchie at full-back. Richie Vernon makes way for Alex Dunbar who has also recovered from an injury and takes the 13 jersey.
New half-backs have been selected as Henry Pyrgos starts ahead of Niko Matawalu at scrum-half - with the latter on the bench - and Duncan Weir comes in to the team, preferred over Finn Russell at fly-half.
Euan Murray retains his spot at tight-head but Ryan Grant and hooker Pat MacArthur give the front row a fresh look this week while Tim Swinson joins Kellock in the second row.
Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson and Josh Strauss round off the forwards as the loose trio.
After a convincing 48-0 win over Italian side Treviso, Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has opted to make few changes to his team for the important festive derby.
"The 1872 Cup fixture is rich in history and tradition," said Solomons,"We all appreciate the privilege of being involved in such a match and are determined to do justice to the occasion.”
Tim Visser has been rested so Tom Brown comes into the team on the wing in the only change to the backline.
Hooker Ross Ford has made a return from injury and starts in one of two changes to Solomons' pack. Anton Bresler has recovered from an ear infection that kept him out of his side's game against Treviso and takes his place in the second row.
Phil Burleigh makes a return to the team as he is named on the bench.
Winger Dougie Fife wins his 50th cap for Edinburgh, and will lead his team out on Saturday.
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Henry Pyrgos , 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Euan Murray, 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Alastair Kellock (c), 6 Ryan Wilson, 7 Rob Harley, 8 Josh Strauss.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Tyrone Holmes, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Sean Maitland.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Andries Strauss , 11 Tom Brown, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Sam Hidago-Clyne, 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 John Andress, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 Roddy Grant, 8 David Denton.
Substitutes: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Stuart McInally, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Glasgow v Edinburgh: Sky Sports 1HD, 2,30pm, Saturday 27 December
