Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has called for one final push from his side as they bid to secure top-flight European rugby next season. Realistically Edinburgh require a bonus-point victory over Leinster in the final round of the GUINNESS PRO12 to put themselves in contention for a European Champions Cup spot in 2015/16. The Scotsmen have lost just two of their last 12 home games in all competitions, both to Irish provinces. Head coach Solomons, whose contract extension for another season was welcomed yesterday, has made four changes to the team who started last weekend against Newport Gwent Dragons. A bonus-point win would still require other results to go their way and Solomons is excited to see what his side can produce. “We all know what is at stake and that we have to be at our best to challenge for a spot at Europe’s top table next season,” he said. Tom Heathcote moves up from the bench at stand-off, to replace the injured Phil Burleigh, while the remainder of the changes are in the pack. John Andress starts at tighthead, in place of WP Nel and Anton Bresler comes in at lock, in place of Fraser McKenzie who moves blindside in place of Stuart McInally, with both last week’s incumbents carrying injuries from the encounter in Wales. Jack Cuthbert retains his place at full-back with Dougie Fife and Tim Visser – playing his last league match in the black and red – on the wing. The centre pairing of Sam Beard and Andries Strauss is retained and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne remains at scrum-half, to partner Heathcote in the half backs. In the pack, Alasdair Dickinson and Ross Ford – who will captain the side – stay at loosehead and hooker while Ben Toolis at lock, Hamish Watson at openside and Cornell Du Preez at No8 retain their places. Leinster's 10-0 victory over Benetton Treviso at the RDS Arena last time out guaranteed a top-six finish and automatic qualification for the European Champions Cup in 2015/16. The Leinstermen have not won successive GUINNESS PRO12 encounters since January, whilst their only victory on the road since their trip to Castres in October was at Cardiff Blues in January. There are three changes to the starting XV which results in a first appearance of the season at outside centre for 24-year-old Clontarf man Colm O’Shea, while Leinster Academy winger Cian Kelleher could make his senior debut if introduced from the bench. Elsewhere, the pack is the same that beat Benetton Treviso last time out. Tomorrow will be Jimmy Gopperth’s last involvement in a Leinster jersey before he moves to Wasps in the summer. Tom Denton will start on the bench in BT Murrayfield but is excited to take on the Scottish side and finish the season on a high. “Last year they beat us narrowly over there in terrible conditions. They’ve beaten Ospreys and Glasgow this year at home and as we all know those two teams are flying it at the moment,” he said. “So we know that we need to front up and perform because they've still got Champions Cup qualification on their minds.” At BT Murrayfield, 3pm. Live on BBC Alba Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 125th competition game) Assistant Referees: Andrew McMenemey, Graeme Wells (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: John Kirk (SRU) TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)
