Darcy Graham sits out but Duhan van der Merwe returns for Edinburgh Rugby's shot at history

The winger missed Edinburgh’s win over the Lions last week due to a tight calf and won’t be risked in Treviso as the capital side look to stay top of the United Rugby Championship.

Graham, Scotland men’s leading try-scorer of all time, has played just one competitive game this season - against Toulon in the Challenge Cup - due to a bicep injury sustained in the pre-season defeat by Harlequins.

However, Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt is confident Graham will be fit to face the All Blacks next week if required. “If selected, he should be, yes,” said Everitt.

“He hasn't quite recovered from that calf strain, but he is with Scotland at the moment, so it's best for him, with the Test matches coming up, if he's selected, that he does not play this week. We have guys that are in form at our club at the moment and we're willing to back them.”

Dislocated his finger

Fellow Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe will play against Benetton on Saturday. He made his comeback from ankle and foot issues last week against the Lions but lasted only 18 minutes due to dislocating his finger while challenging for a high ball. The injury is not as bad as first feared and he was named in Gregor Townsend’s Nations Championship squad this week.

“He's looking well,” said Everitt. “He trained with Scotland early in the week, just like the other internationals, and he'll be with us [from Thursday]. He'll come up to speed really quickly, and he's excited to get another opportunity.”

Given Edinburgh’s impressive start to the season, it was a surprise that only five of their players were included in Townsend’s 37-man Scotland selection. Ewan Ashman and Pierre Schoeman have remained with the national squad and will not be available to face Benetton, meaning a front-row reshuffle.

Replacements for Schoeman, Ashman

Alec Hepburn comes in for Schoeman at loosehead prop and Harri Morris replaces Ashman at hooker. Liam McConnell, also part of the Scotland squad, has been released back to Edinburgh and will start at six against Benetton.

There is also a place in the back-row for Freddy Douglas who has recovered from concussion. The absence of Douglas and No 8 Magnus Bradbury were two of the most notable omissions from Townsend’s squad but Everitt believes they could yet see some action next month across Scotland’s four Nations Championship games.

“Freddy is a guy that just gets about his business on a daily basis and does it really well, and I'm sure he's looking to put in a good performance, because there's going to be an opportunity in November,” said Everitt. “The nature of the game is that there will be injuries, and these guys that have come back to us have got an opportunity to put their hand up for selection.”

‘Maggie is a fighter’

On Bradbury, he added: “Maggie is a fighter and he's been in this position before. He has played well for us. There's obviously different opinions on what is needed at international rugby and that's fine. I'm sure those have been communicated to him.

“And for him, it's about continuing in the fine form that he has. And like I've said before, sometimes the player that's playing [for his club] is in a better situation than the player holding bags at Oriam.”

‘We haven't thrown Ross in the bin’

Edinburgh are aiming to make it five wins from five in the URC which would be their best start to a league season. Everitt has included Ross Thompson on the bench as back-up for James Grayson, the first time the stand-off has been involved in this campaign.

“Ross he has a role to play within our group,” said Everitt. “James Grayson has been playing well and the team's got momentum.

“We haven't thrown Ross in the bin. He's definitely part of us going forward.”

Edinburgh team to play Benetton

BKT United Rugby Championship round 5, Stadio Monigo, Treviso, Saturday, 3pm GMT

15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Geordie Gwynn, 13. Matt Currie (co-capt), 12. Mosese Tuipulotu, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. James Grayson, 9. Hector Patterson; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Harri Morris, 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4. Glen Young, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. Liam McConnell, 7. Freddy Douglas, 8. Magnus Bradbury (co-capt). Replacements: 16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17. Jamie Stewart, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Callum Hunter-Hill, 20. Tom Currie, 21. Conor McAlpine, 22. Ross Thompson, 23. Harry Paterson.