Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership title winner Sophie Murphy and Scotland cap Beth Blacklock have come into the Glasgow Warriors starting XV for Saturday’s Celtic Challenge match at Edinburgh Rugby.
Edinburgh began their campaign in the six-team competition that features Welsh and Irish sides also with a 34-7 defeat away to two-time defending champions Wolfhounds last weekend while Glasgow defeated Brython Thunder on the road 36-17 with a bonus point.
As a result, head coach Lindsey Smith and her charges will be travelling east feeling in confident mood.
Edinburgh won the corresponding fixture 63-15 last term, but a much closer encounter is expected this time.
Murphy comes into the second-row in place of Stirling County team mate Femma Thomson while Blacklock is released by Saracens for the fixture and starts at 12 in place of Briar McNamara. The rest of the starting team is unchanged with Thomson and McNamara on the bench along with Wigtownshire skipper Neve Finlay who could debut at this level if she is required.
Head coach Smith said: “It was fantastic to start our campaign with a win down in Wales, but our attention quickly turned to this Saturday’s fixture against Edinburgh.
“Edinburgh are a well-drilled side with plenty of quality so we’re very aware of the challenge they will present. However, last weekend we showed that we can be clinical when opportunities arise and now the emphasis is on delivering a complete 80-minute performance here.”
The Glasgow front-row sees Freya Gracie continue to pack down alongside Megan Hyland and Imogen Spence.
Murphy links up with co-captain Holland Bogan in the second-row, while Samaanther Taganekurukuru, Gemma Bell and Emily Coubrough in the back-row.
Rianna Darroch and co-captain Ceitidh Ainsworth are the half-back pairing with Blacklock alongside last week’s player of the match Nicole Flynn in the midfield.
Poppy Mellanby starts at full-back and Sky Phimister and Hannah Smyth line up on the wings having all scored tries in Wales.
Finlay, Thomson and McNamara are joined by Aicha Sutcliffe, Katie Lindsay, Freya Walker, Rebekah Douglas and Emily Norval on the bench.
Sophie Murphy is pictured – thanks to Bryan Robertson and Beth Blacklock is pictured – thanks to N50 Photography