**Conference B’s mid-table is looking congested behind Leinster Rugby, but coming off the back of the impressive double over Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh now get the chance to jump up into second.** They take on an Isuzu Southern Kings side who will no doubt have enjoyed a winter break and will pose a real threat having had plenty of time together in training. **What’s at stake?** Edinburgh will bounce into their game at BT Murrayfield against the Kings (live on Premier Sports 1, SuperSport 1 & eir sport2, 19:35) knowing that if results go their way in Round 13 they could slingshot into second place behind Leinster. Richard Cockerill’s men struggled for consistency earlier in the campaign coming off the back of their first-ever Guinness PRO14 Final Series appearance last season. However, Scotland’s capital team have bounced back in the Guinness PRO14 and the Champions Cup and their back-to-back wins over Glasgow Warriors have set them up for a good 2019. The Kings are playing their first game since their winter break and an away win in the Guinness PRO14 still remains elusive for Deon Davids’ team. **Team news (Edinburgh):** Head coach Richard Cockerill has made 11 changes to the side that recorded a hard-earned victory over Glasgow at Scotstoun last weekend to retain the 1872 Cup. In the back three, Dougie Fife returns to action at full-back and is partnered on the wings by Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy graduate George Taylor is named in the centre alongside Argentine international Juan Pablo Socino, whilst Simon Hickey is partnered at half-back by scrum-half Nathan Fowles. **Team news (Isuzu Southern Kings):** The Kings forwards will have a front row that will start together for the first time as former Junior Springbok loosehead prop Alulutho Tshakweni gets his first starting berth alongside tighthead Pieter Scholtz and hooker Alandre van Rooyen, who returns to the team after missing out of action in the Kings’ last match of 2018 with a concussion. In the backline, Masixole Banda returns to full-back after playing at fly-half against Benetton, with Martin du Toit returning to No.10. The centre pairing will see Harlon Klaasen once again partnering with Tertius Kruger while wing Michael Makase also finds himself back in the starting XV for the Edinburgh clash.

**What they said** Ahead of the fixture Edinburgh head coach Cockerill commented: “We have to keep battling away. Players have to front up, it’s simple as that. The settled part of our squad has been really good for us, especially on short turnarounds. "There’s a long way to go. I want to be in Europe next year and we have to qualify for that. We have a lot to do. We want to be in the playoffs again.” Kings head coach Davids commented: “We have a lot to prove. We just have to keep our feet on the ground and continue to work hard. We have been fortunate to be able to select a strong side for this match and have maintained some consistency in our selection.” **Key battle: Duhan van der Merwe v Michael Makase:** If the Kings are going to pull off a result in Edinburgh then they are going to need to stop one of the most dangerous players in the Guinness PRO14 – Duhan van der Merwe. The 23-year-old South African has three tries in his last four appearances and has the underlying statistics to indicate he’ll get plenty more – van der Merwe leads the way in the Guinness PRO14 in terms of both defenders beaten (40) and clean breaks (16). **Edinburgh:** 15. Dougie Fife, 14. Darcy Graham, 13. George Taylor, 12. Juan Pablo Socino, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Simon Hickey, 9. Nathan Fowles, 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. David Cherry, 3. Simon Berghan, 4. Fraser McKenzie, 5. Callum Hunter-Hill, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Luke Crosbie, 8. Viliame Mata **Replacements:** 16. Ross Ford, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Pietro Ceccarelli, 19. Ben Toolis, 20. Ally Miller, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. James Johnstone

Southern Kings: 15. Masixole Banda, 14. Michael Makase, 13. Harlon Klaasen, 12. Tertius Kruger, 11. Yaw Penxe, 10. Martin Du Toit, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 1. Alulutho Tshakweni, 2. Alandre Van Rooyen, 3. Pieter Scholtz, 4. Stephan Greeff, 5. John-Charles Astle ©, 6. Cyril-John Velleman, 7. Martinus Burger, 8. Ruaan Lerm

Replacements: 16. Michael Willemse, 17. Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 18. Luvuyo Pupuma, 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Andries van Schalkwyk, 21. Sarel Pretorius, 22. Berton Klaasen, 23. Ntabeni Dukisa

Key stat: Edinburgh have won their last four matches in all tournaments since going down to Munster in Round 10 of the Guinness PRO14 at the end of November.

Did you know? Edinburgh’s only defeat to a South African opponent in the Guinness PRO14 was against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in November 2017.

TV: Live on Premier Sports 1, SuperSport 1 & eir sport 2

Referee : John Lacey (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Johnny Erskine (IRFU) and Hollie Davidson (SRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)