Edinburgh’s latest staging post could make the chase in the Guinness PRO14 Conference B very interesting, but it won’t decide the play-offs either way, says head coach Richard Cockerill.
The capital side have won four out of their last five in the league to draw within three points of tonight’s hosts Ulster, and could leapfrog them into third place with a victory in the Kingspan Stadium tonight.
But Cockerill just wants to see how his side deal with the hostile atmosphere in Belfast to give him another measurement of how far along their development they’ve come.
“They have brought some good players back this week, they are at home, it will be sold out and a big atmosphere, but I’m excited because it’s a really good test for us,” said the coach.
“We have to earn the right to push for the play-offs. If we lose our play-off hopes are not done, but if we win we are in the box seat.”
Cockerill has made five changes, with John Hardie starting for the first time since his disciplinary suspension and Cornell du Preez returning to action after his disappointing performance for Scotland in Cardiff.
“John is working hard, he’s fit and he is desperate to get out there and prove how good he is,” continued Cockerill. “I’m delighted to have him back and he gives us that hard edge.
“John is pretty much where he was when he was in the Scotland squad. He just wants to get out and pay, he’s short of match fitness but he gives us a lot; he’s a good ball carrier, very good in the tackle and over the ball.
“Cornell is obviously disappointed the way things went in Cardiff but he has worked hard. He has an opportunity to lead the way physically tomorrow, and we are going to need his best game out on the field because Ulster are a tough physical team who are very direct.
“Both of them have a point to prove, Bill Mata is in great form and it’s a very strong back row.”
Cockerill thinks Mark Bennett is still finding his feet and perhaps isn’t quite ready for a Scotland call, but is headed in the right direction.
“The more he plays the better he will get, so I don’t think he’s back to his very best yet but he will be,” he added. “He’s sat out for a long time and is still finding his way, but for Mark finding his way is still playing pretty well.
“If there are injury issues or form issues then Mark’s a good option for Scotland, but at the moment he’s just concentrating on getting time under his belt and getting back to being fully match sharp after so long out.”
Edinburgh: Dougie Fife; Jason Harries, Mark Bennett, Chris Dean, Duhan van der Merwe; Jaco vand der Walt, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Jordan Lay, Neil Cochrane, Murray McCallum; Fraser McKenzie (capt), Lewis Carmichael; Bill Mata, John Hardie, Cornell du Preez. Replacements: Cameron Fenton, Rory Sutherland, Eliot Millar Mills, Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Nathan Fowles, Duncan Weir, Glenn Bryce.