Preview: Glasgow v Edinburgh

Editor

Skipper Al Kellock returns to the Glasgow Warriors starting line-up for the 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh.

Skipper Al Kellock returns to the Glasgow Warriors starting line-up for the 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh.

Kellock, who suffered an arm injury against Castres Olympique at Scotstoun Stadium a fortnight ago, has recovered in time for the big city derby.

Having impressed last week in the Heineken Cup and with vital PRO12 points up for grabs, Ruaridh Jackson and Niko Matawalu resume their half-back partnership with Peter Horne and Sean Lamont again the centre pairing.

There is just one personnel change to the back line which faced the Top 14 French side last week, with Peter Murchie taking the full-back position and Sean Maitland moving to the wing.

Tommy Seymour, who signed a new contract with the Warriors this week, drops out of the squad with Stuart Hogg covering the back-line from the substitutes bench.

Jonny Gray, younger brother of Scotland star, Richie, is in line to make his senior professional debut after being named on the bench for the match this Friday.

Meanwhile, Michael Bradley will deliberate further on the pivotal role of captain Greig Laidlaw for the derby clash at Scotstoun.

Nick De Luca has been ruled out so James King takes his place at centre while Lee Jones has been passed fit.

Top try-scorer Tim Visser and inside-centre Matt Scott are welcomed back into the backline with ever-present Greig Tonks starting at full-back.

Allan Jacobsen and Willem Nel are preferred to John Yapp and Geoff Cross alongside hooker Ross Ford in the front-row, while Heineken Cup tied lock Izak van der Westhuizen returns to partner Grant Gilchrist.

Form: Glasgow Warriors have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions but were so close to claiming a notable scalp with their visit to Top-14 powerhouse Castres on Sunday, only slipping to an 8-10 defeat inside the last ten minutes. The Warriors have won three of their last four RaboDirect PRO12 contests at Scotstoun. Edinburgh Rugby have won their last two PRO12 fixtures against Ospreys and Connacht but have not won three in succession in the tournament since October 2010. Edinburgh's only away win since September was 24-23 in Galway on 1 December. Glasgow currently hold the 1872 trophy having gained a win and a draw from last season's festive fixtures with Edinburgh.

The teams:

Glasgow: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Tim Swinson, 4 Al Kellock (c), 3 Moray Low, 2 Pat Macarthur, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 German Araoz, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 James Eddie, 21 Henry Prygos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Stuart Hogg.

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Lee Jones/Dougie Fife, 13 James King, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Stuart McInally, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 David Denton, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 John Yapp, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ben Atiga, 23 Dougie Fife.

Date: Friday, 21 December
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35
Referee:Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Mcmenemy (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)