The versatile back row forward, 26, has started all 15 Magners League matches so far this season and has clocked up over 1100 minutes of game-time in the process. Lock Craig Hamilton has also played a pivotal role in Edinburgh's matches so far this season with the 29-year-old appearing in 14 games in the engine room.
Full-back Chris Paterson retains the number 15 jersey and the Scotland record cap internationalist has contributed 147 points - both in the Magners League and Europe - with 30 penalties and 22 conversions. Paterson's return to the capital was announced on the same day Edinburgh last faced Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in April 2008 when Alan MacDonald's stoppage time try secured a 19-18 win.
After chalking up a convincing 32-16 win over Ospreys in November, Edinburgh could potentially record an impressive 'double' over the Welsh region and take the team's winning sequence to four in a row.
On the injury front, Mark Robertson (hamstring) is still ruled out and he is joined in the treatment room by long term casualties Allan Jacobsen (shoulder), Ross Rennie (knee), David Callam (hip), and Steven Turnbull (ankle).
Edinburgh Rugby Club squad to play Ospreys in the Magners League at Liberty Stadium (Saturday 25 April, kick off 7.30pm, live on S4C)
15 Chris Paterson
14 John Houston
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick De Luca
11 Simon Webster
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair (captain)
1 Kyle Traynor
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Jim Hamilton
6 Scott Newlands
7 Alan MacDonald
8 Allister Hogg
Substitutes: Andrew Kelly, Ryan Grant, Scott MacLeod, Matt Mustchin, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair or Andrew Turnbull, Hugo Southwell.
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