Starting role for private Ryan

Former Royal Signaller Grant, 23, has been handed the number three jersey for the trip to Musgrave Park and he says he is aiming to make an impact in the front row.

Grant said: "I'm really pleased to be given the chance to start for Edinburgh and I want to make the most of the opportunity.

"After experiencing a few injury problems, I've been waiting for an opportunity and now I want to take it with both hands and help Edinburgh win.

"Playing against the Heineken Cup winners will be a tough test, but my time in the Army taught me about meeting challenges and overcoming them."

After undergoing groin surgery in January, Grant returned to competitive action last Friday and scored a try on Irish soil during a win for Edinburgh's back-up team over Leinster's reserves in Dublin.

Now the Stirling County forward says he is ready to make an impact in the front row.

He added: "The operation went well and I felt really sharp playing against Leinster in the back-up game last week.

"Scoring a try was a bonus really - the main thing was to get some game-time under my belt."

Winger Mark Robertson, who underwent a similar operation at the same time at Grant, comes back into the starting line-up after a month long lay-off and Alan MacDonald (head knock) also returns to the team at openside.

The half-back partnership of scrum half Greig Laidlaw and stand-off David Blair, who scored 11 points during the team's previous trip to Musgrave Park, continue in a back division containing internationalists Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca and Chris Paterson.

At the base of the scrum, Allister Hogg, in his 17th start of the campaign, captains the side in a back row containing club captain Simon Cross and MacDonald.

New signing Scott MacLeod is named amongst the replacements alongside prop Bruce McNeil and both Hawick men could potentially make their debuts in the Black and Red.

Up front, Kyle Traynor retains his place at loosehead alongside experienced hooker Andrew Kelly who will be making his 105th appearance for Edinburgh.

On the injury front, Simon Webster (head knock), Geoff Cross (knee), Calum MacRae (leg), Gavin Kerr (back) and John Houston (fractured hand) are joined in the treatment room by long term casualties Matt Mustchin (ankle), Ross Rennie (knee), David Callam (hip), Fraser McKenzie (hamstring) and Steven Turnbull (ankle).


Edinburgh Rugby Club squad to play Munster in the Magners League at Musgrave Park, Cork (Saturday 21 February, kick off 7.30pm, live on Setanta Sports)

15 Chris Paterson
14 Andrew Turnbull
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick De Luca
11 Mark Robertson
10 David Blair
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Kyle Traynor
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Ryan Grant
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing
6 Simon Cross
7 Alan MacDonald
8 Allister Hogg (captain)

Substitutes: Steve Lawrie, Bruce McNeil, Scott MacLeod, Scott Newlands, Ben Meyer, Jim Thompson, Roland Reid.