Hoyland and Blake to start against Ospreys

The team, which also sees Jade Te Rure make his first start at stand-off, after two appearances on the bench, and Stuart McInally looking set to make his debut at hooker off the bench, with Neil Cochrane starting in the number 2 shirt, has seen 12 changes to the XV who started Edinburgh's last match, the win over Bordeaux-Begles last month.

Jack Cuthbert comes in at fullback, Tom Brown is in at left wing and Sam Beard is at outside centre. It's a new half-back pairing, too, as Grayson Hart returns at scrum-half to partner Te Rure.

There are further changes in the pack with Rory Sutherland moving up to start at loosehead, Ollie Atkins at lock, and Roddy Grant moving from the bench to start at blindside.

With a number of players still training with the Scotland squad, and a team against Wales yet to be announced, only centre Phil Burleigh, prop WP Nel and lock Anton Bresler remain, with captain Mike Coman moving from blindside to no 8. On the bench alongside McInally, prop Grant Shiells, back-row Tomas Leonardi, scrum half Alex Glashan and stand-off Tom Heathcote return to the mix.

New cap Hoyland expressed his delight at what's been a memorable week: "I'm still trying to get my head round it! It's an opportunity that I've always dreamed of and I'm going to grab it with both hands. I'm very excited for the challenge ahead but I feel well prepared after my stint with the sevens."

Ospreys last visited the capital on 14 February last year, when Edinburgh edged the current Guinness PRO12 table-toppers 31-25, with two tries from Grayson Hart and one from Sam Beard. The teams' most recent meeting, however, was not such a success as the club were defeated 13-62 at the Liberty Stadium - not a memory on which Edinburgh want to dwell.

Head coach Alan Solomons said: "Friday night's match presents a huge opportunity for a number of players. I am sure that they will grasp it with both hands."

Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys, Guinness PRO12 Friday 13 February, kick-off 8.05pm Myreside

15 Jack Cuthbert
14 Damien Hoyland
13 Sam Beard
12 Phil Burleigh
11 Tom Brown
10 Jade Te Rure
9 Grayson Hart

1 Rory Sutherland
2 Neil Cochrane
3 WP Nel
4 Anton Bresler
5 Ollie Atkins
6 Roddy Grant
7 Hugh Blake
8 Mike Coman

16 Stuart McInally
17 Grant Shiells
18 John Andress
19 Fraser McKenzie
20 Tomas Leonardi
21 Alex Glashan
22 Tom Heathcote
23 Andries Strauss