Robinson is without seven players and has called national academy forwards Sean Crombie and Fraser McKenzie into a 27-man squad for the Murrayfield fixture.

His side stand fourth, a place above their opponents and just a point off second place.

Edinburgh will be without Scotland pair Allan Jacobsen (groin) and Ross Ford (ankle) plus Roland Reid (hamstring) and Alan MacDonald (fractured cheekbone), while Greig Laidlaw, Ally Warnock and Scott Newlands are in Hong Kong with Scotland, competing in the IRB Sevens.

Robinson said: “With three of our first-team squad players away in Hong Kong and a further four ruled out through injury, we have had to look at our options.

“But this situation creates an opportunity for someone else to come in and seize their chance. One of the key factors behind our positive results so far this season has been the level of competition for places in the side.”

Robinson can still call on Scotland internationals Mike Blair, Nick De Luca, Hugo Southwell and Simon Webster, giving him a strong back division.