Edinburgh hope Duhan van der Merwe's pace can tame Cheetahs

Duhan Van Der Merwe will make his first start for Edinburgh against Cheetahs. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS/SRU

The Edinburgh squad travelled out to South Africa on Saturday to set-up camp for a fortnight, the first time a Scottish club has ever been based elsewhere for so long for league fixtures.

They take on the Cheetahs this evening (5.30pm GMT) in Bloemfontein and then play the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth in seven days time in the Guinness Pro14. After this first match of the mini tour some of the Scotland players involved against Australia are set to fly out to bolster the squad, but for now Cockerill has to go with what he has got.

He was handed a boost in midweek when Scotland extended squad members Nathan Fowles and Magnus Bradbury were released by Gregor Townsend – and Cockerill is excited about the challenges ahead.

The Cheetahs have adapted to life in the Pro14 quicker than the Kings and have four wins from four to sit third in Conference A – led by Glasgow.

They are coached by former Watsonians player Rory Duncan and take on an Edinburgh side fourth in Conference B.

“We know this will be a very tough test, we are missing guys and the Cheetahs have been going well at home, but to have some of the Scotland guys back is good and we were in decent form before the break and we hope that will carry on,” Cockerill said from the squad’s base in South Africa.

Key to any away day glory for the team missing a number of Scotland players in Bloemfontein will be 22-year-old South African van der Merwe. He arrived in the summer from Montpelier with a hip problem and had surgery, but has been training for the last four weeks and is fit to play.

“He is quick and powerful, a direct runner and a big man with a lot of talent,” Cockerill said. “Duhan is aggressive with and without the ball so it is exciting to have him available.”

Murray McCallum gets a first start of the season at tighthead prop while two young players, Lewis Carmichael and Luke Crosbie, are given the nod to play in the back-row.

Off the bench Callum Hunter-Hill and Jaco van der Walt could make Edinburgh debuts.

Summer signing Robbie Fruean is not available due to a virus, but it is not thought to be connected to his previous heart problems. “He has not been feeling very well and has had some sickness and is  just not fit to play,” Cockerill said.

“At the moment we are just trying to get to the bottom of it, he has had a viral infection and he is trying to shake that off and he is on antibiotics and did not travel with us.”