Lynn Howells said: "It is disappointing that we have lost Chris and Marcus this week as I was pleased the way the team performed against the Dragons, and we would have liked to have been able to build on that going down to Cardiff. We'd hoped that Rob would make it, but he did not come through this morning's team run.
"I don't know many squads in professional rugby that would be able to operate with eight of their backs injured, but I'm sure the players selected will rise to the challenge tomorrow. Cardiff have the majority of their players available and most of their team are internationalists so they will be confident of a result and we will have to be at the top of our game."
Edinburgh team to play Cardiff Blues on Saturday 14 April at Cardiff Arms Park, kicking off at 4.10pm.
15 Alistair Warnock (Currie RFC)
14 Lucio Lopez Fleming
13 Peter Jorgensen
12 Matt Dey
11 Ben Cairns
10 Phil Godman
9 Greig Laidlaw
1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Geoff Cross
4 Chris Bentley
5 Scott Murray
6 Allister Hogg (captain)
7 Alan MacDonald
8 Dave Callam
Substitutes:
16 Dougie Hall
17 Alasdair Dickinson
18 Fergus Pringle
19 Simon Taylor
20 Alasdair Strokosch
21 John Senio
22 Duncan Hodge
Unavailable for selection: Mike Blair (collar-bone/shoulder), Innes Brown (neck), Rob Dewey (abdominal strain), Marcus Di Rollo (neck), Andrew Easson (leg), Dave McCall (unwell), Matt Mustchin (shoulder), Chris Paterson (knee), Craig Smith (neck), Hugo Southwell (shoulder), Steven Turnbull (shoulder), Simon Webster (lower leg).