Scotland internationals Duhan van der Merwe and Grant Gilchrist return to the Edinburgh starting line-up for the first time this season as they face the Lions in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Wing Van der Merwe had been suffering with an ankle injury and replaces Malelili Satala .

And Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt told BBC Scotland: "He comes in at the right time. To get a quality player like that back in the URC is really good for the club, especially with his experience.

"On top of that, he's been training exceptionally well. He's been our star performer at training over the last couple of weeks, so it's great that he's fully fit now and ready to go."

In other changes to the starting XV, Geordie Gwynn starts on the right wing in place of Darcy Graham, who is being rested after picking up "calf tightness" during last week's Challenge Cup defeat by Toulon, although the issue is not expected to rule him out of Scotland contention with the November Tests in mind.

"It's not serious at all," said Everitt referring to Graham's injury. "He got a calf strain against Toulon on Friday night and he's still experienced some stiffness in that calf.

"It's pointless to risk him this week, especially with perhaps a Scotland call-up in November and perhaps a game against Benetton next week."

Gilchrist comes into the second row in place of Callum Hunter-Hill, while Liam McConnell is recalled at blindside flanker, with Tom Currie switching to openside in place of Freddy Douglas, who misses out having sustained a concussion in training.

Fresh from signing a new contract with the club, Hector Patterson keeps his place at scrum-half. Lock Marshall Sykes is poised for his 100th appearance for Edinburgh as he's named among the replacements.

"First of all, he's also a popular guy amongst our group, not only because of his food channel that he's got on Instagram, but he brings a physical edge to our team," said Everitt. "He's really good in set piece and he carries the ball well and he's a stopper defensively.

"He's been at the club for a while now and therefore he's getting his 100th game. You have to play really well to get 100 caps at Edinburgh.

"I'm really happy for a guy like him. He had to buy his time to get regular starts in the first XV but at the same time also managed to get himself into the Scotland squad last year.

"Unfortunately, injury ruled him out and he's been hampered by injury, so it's great that he's back and on top of that, playing at home to get his 100th game."

Replacements: Harri Morris, Jamie Stewart, Paul Hill, Marshall Sykes, Tom Dodd, Conor McAlpine, Cammy Scott, Harry Paterson.