IN the build-up to the big double-header, when Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors compete for the 1872 Cup home and away on 27 December and 2 January, there's a great warm-up game in store for both teams.

Edinburgh A will be hosting Glasgow A at BT Murrayfield (back pitch) on Monday 22 December, kicking off at 7.30pm (free entry).

Both teams will feature full time pro players, BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy prospects and local club players, looking to show their skills and potentially challenge for a place in the pro team.

Coach for the A team, Stevie Scott, said: "It's an important game – these fixtures are positive for our players and it's also good to involve those players who are doing well for their clubs.” The match will see Stuart McInally have his first start for Edinburgh in his new position at hooker and the club welcome back winger Damien Hoyland from Scotland 7s, where he scored four tries in last weekend's tournament in South Africa.

Scott added: "The game will also add interest to the forthcoming 1872 Cup fixtures and give us the opportunity to look at the two players [Hugh Blake and Jade Te Rure] who are here on trial.” The fixture will be Edinburgh's fourth this season at this level, following on from the opener against Glasgow A in Stirling, the home win over Sale Jets and the defeat of touring Ontario Blues at Meggetland in October.

Standout performances in the game against the Blues led to players like Heriot's captain Jack Turley pulling on the pro jersey later the same week against Leinster in the Guinness PRO12.

Tickets are available for the deciding leg of the 1872 Cup, at BT Murrayfield on 2 January 2015 (kick-off 7.35pm) - online at edinburghrugby.org or by phone on 0131 346 5180 (phone line open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm) or in person at the BT Murrayfield Ticket Centre in Roseburn Street. Price £20 adults (£25 on match day), £10 senior citizens and students, and £1 for under-18s with our Kids for a Quid offer!

Edinburgh A team v Glasgow A, BT Murrayfield (back pitch), Monday 22 Jan, k/o 7.30pm 15 Ruairi HOWARTH 14 Damien HOYLAND 13 Chris DEAN 12 Joaquin DOMINGUEZ 11 Tom BROWN 10 Jade TE RURE 9 Sean KENNEDY 1 Nick BEVAN 2 Stuart McINALLY 3 Simon BERGHAN 4 Ollie ATKINS 5 Alex TOOLIS 6 Jamie RITCHIE 7 Hugh BLAKE 8 Magnus BRADBURY Substitutes 16 James HILTERBRAND 17 Struan CESSFORD 18 Jason HILL 19 Callum HUNTER-HALL 20 Ally MILLER 21 Alex GLASHAN 22 Carl BEZUIDENHOUT 23 Grant McCONNELL 24 Callum ANDERSON