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Scotland captain Mike Blair will again have to settle for a place on the bench when Magners League leaders Edinburgh visit Ulster on Friday.

The scrum-half recovered from a throat infection to come on in the 56th minute of Edinburgh's 62-13 victory over Connacht, but Greg Laidlaw will keep his starting place for the Ravenhill clash.

Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat has made three changes to the team that scored eight tries, with Ross Ford, Tim Visser and Kyle Traynor coming in.

British and Irish Lions hooker Ford replaces Andrew Kelly in the front row and will line up alongside Scotland A international Traynor, who takes over at loosehead prop from Allan Jacobsen.

Winger Visser, who scored a try on his Magners League debut at Cardiff, replaces Andrew Turnbull.

After scoring 11 tries in their opening two victories, centre Ben Cairns is confident they can repeat their 2007 win in Belfast.

Cairns said: "Nobody is getting carried away after just two games, but we are pleased with the progress we have made so far this season.

"Playing away at Ulster is one of the most difficult tests in the Magners League and we realise that we will have to be at the top of our game in order to achieve another positive result. When we won there in 2007 it was a really important result for the team in terms of our development, of learning how to win away from home.

"We will be looking to carry on the momentum we have generated over the first two matches at Ulster."

Allister Hogg will continue to captain the side, while lock Steve Turnbull returns to the squad with a place on the bench.

PA Sport