The gulf in importance between Europe’s two club competitions seemed demonstrated yesterday when London Irish made a raft of changes for their entry into this season’s Challenge Cup.

Richard Cockerill, Edinburgh’s new head coach who is a veteran of the English Premiership and the pressures it generates, readily acknowledged that as he looked ahead to the match, but he is also aware that brings dangers in itself for his side as they head to Reading.

Such are the resources available to clubs south of the border that experienced knowhow will be replaced to hungry understudies of high calibre.

“It’s certainly a mixed selection from them,” he said. “The Premiership has relegation and there is a lot of money at stake and they’ve obviously had a tough six weeks. They are using their squad as we are. In the Premiership a lot of money is spent on those first 20 players and it becomes difficult, but they have good youngsters in their squad and there is experience in the team there as well. It’s hard to say if they’re prioritising the Premiership. We will wait and see when we play them tomorrow.”

From his own team’s perspective it is very much a case of business as usual, treating this match very similarly to those that have preceded it.

Tempting as it is to attribute that, at least partly, to a similar preference for prioritising the bread and butter of the domestic league over what is the second tier European competition, Cockerill also seems to be taking the opportunity to get a message across to his squad about what is required of them. He has, after all, repeatedly commented upon Edinburgh’s track record of lifting themselves for Europe, something almost entrenched in the culture of the club, but which he is determined to change.

“I want us to try and be competitive every week and try and win every week,” he said. “It’s clearly a team that can raise itself on occasion and we need to be a team that raises itself every week. We’re going to go to Irish to try and win the game, same when we go to Russia (next weekend) and then obviously two very big games in the league, then a break before we go to South Africa. “

There are consequently changes in every department with injuries playing some part in that, but squad management also contributing, perhaps exemplified by the factors that bring about a change of on-field leadership. Magnus Bradbury, their youthful club captain, dropping out as he nurses a shoulder injury following their slightly fortuitous home win against Zebre last week. That sees abrasive and experienced Fraser McKenzie, who led them when they impressed when losing narrowly in Leinster a fortnight ago, reclaims the captaincy as he returns to the second row in favour of Grant Gilchrist.

“I’m having a look at some, looking at different combinations and just keeping rotating the squad and making sure that all the guys that I want to get game time are getting game time,” said Cockerill. “We’ve got some players with a few niggles and we want to clear those up with an eye to the PRO14... and we just want to make sure everybody’s getting good game time, we’re keeping everybody fresh and creating competition within the squad.”

Edinburgh team to meet London Irish: Glenn Bryce, Dougie Fife , Chris Dean, Junior Rasolea, Damien Hoyland; Jason Tovey, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Allan Dell, Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan, Fraser McKenzie capt, Ben Toolis, Jamie Ritchie, John Hardie, Cornell du Preez. Replacements: Neil Cochrane. Daryl Marfo, WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Luke Crosbie, Nathan Fowles, Tom Brown, Jason Harries