Newport Gwent Dragons v Edinburgh: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 07/05/15 4:29pm
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons admits Newport Gwent Dragons are not the side he wants to face as they try to shake off their European heartache.
The Murrayfield side became the first Scottish team to appear in a major continental final last week as they faced Gloucester for the European Challenge Cup.
But there was only disappointment waiting for Solomons' side at the Stoop as they fell to a 19-13 defeat.
Edinburgh will try to put a smile back on their supporters' faces on Friday as they take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade, where a victory will keep them in contention for a Champions Cup place.
Solomons said: "Coming off the back of the European Challenge Cup final, especially with the Dragons having had a fixture-free week and playing at home at Rodney Parade - a notoriously difficult venue - this will be a tough encounter."
Solomons has made four changes to the starting line-up, with two enforced by injury and two rotational. Jack Cuthbert takes over at full-back from Greig Tonks, who had a recurrence of a hamstring problem last Friday.
Due to back-row injuries, Stuart McInally moves up from the bench to start on the blindside and will also captain the team in the absence of injured skipper Mike Coman.
The other two changes come in the pack with Hamish Watson moving up from the bench to start at openside, while Fraser McKenzie makes his first start since the away match against Ospreys earlier in the season.
The Dragons will be out for revenge following their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Edinburgh last month, and Lyn Jones makes seven changes to the team that were beaten by the Scarlets at the Millennium Stadium in Round 20.
Jason Tovey and Luc Jones form a new half-back partnership, the latter making his first Guinness PRO12 start.
Hooker Thomas Rhys Thomas returns to the front row, lock Cory Hill partners the experienced Rynard Landman, while Nick Crosswell and Nic Cudd are named in the back row alongside Wales No 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Dragons: 15 Tom Prydie, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Luc Jones; 1 Phil Price, 2 T Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Brok Harris, 4 Cory Hill, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Nick Crosswell, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Hugh Gustafson, Lloyd Fairbrother, Dan Way, James Thomas, Ollie Griffiths, Richie Rees, Dorian Jones, Geraint Rhys Jones.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 WP Nel, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Stuart McInally (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andress, 19 Anton Bresler, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Tom Brown.
