WE CAN move on without David Denton. That was the message from Alan Solomons, the Edinburgh head coach as he admitted that move to transfer the big No8 to Bath had come as a complete surprise. Now that it is a done deal he is only interested in the future.

It is not the first time in recent years that Edinburgh last lost a star player, though it is the first time it has happened mid-season. "Dents has made a valuable contribution [to Edinburgh] and was a very valuable member of the [Scotland] squad who had a very good World Cup. I respect his decision and wish him all the best," said Solomons. "We lost Greig [Laidlaw] at the end of the previous season, these things happen in pro sport.

"There is no doubt he is a big loss to the squad, but we still have two youngsters, Magnus Bradbury, who is with the sevens, and I am hoping to give Jamie Ritchie a game against Agen, though he will also probably also have a spell with the sevens."

As Solomons also observed, Even without the youngsters whose chances will come that much more quickly now that they are not competing with a current Scotland international, the club is well covered at blindside flanker and No8, the two roles Denton covers, with Nasi Manu, Cornell du Preez and Mike Coman all in the running.

Meanwhile as Denton goes out, John Hardie comes in for his first start when they play Grenoble in the European Challenge Cup tonight. While he is a radically different style of player, he shares the World Cup experience and work ethic that is so important to the Edinburgh psyche.

At the other end of the scale, Alasdair Dickinson, the prop, is ready to make his 100th appearance for Edinburgh in his second spell at the club. "I had no idea, to be honest, until I was told – showing my age I suppose," he said.

As Dickinson pointed out, he was in no position to criticise Denton's decision, having made a similar move early in his career, but the reality is that in professional sport moves like this are becoming routine.

“He is going to be sorely missed, he is not just a big player on the pitch he is a big clown off it sometimes," Dickinson added. "He has been an integral part of the Edinburgh squad for the last 6 years and it is a shame to see him go but its a great opportunity for him.

“I can't sit here and say its wrong for him to go because I left too. It's good to get experience. He is going to go down there and challenge himself in a different environment. Hopefully it makes him a better player. It's pro sport at the end of the day so we just have to take it on the chin – we have good guys in that position."

Instead, there are two big tasks for the players. One is to end the depressing run of three defeats; the other is to get their European Challenge Cup campaign off to the same sort of winning start that propelled them to the final last season.

To manage that, Solomons has made two changes, with John Hardie neatly slotting into the back row for his first game in the week that Denton left and Dougie Fife coming in at full back.

Hardie is very much a specialist openside competing with Hamish Watson and Roddy Grant for his spot, and won't give anything resembling the same options as Denton as a ball carrier or in the line out, but they do have the shared experience of the World Cup and a strong work ethic.

"His [Hardie's] work rate is tremendous and he is ready to play," said Solomons. "He has had two weeks with the squad now and does have that experience of the World Cup. He has played a lot of Super Rugby games but that is not the same as playing Test match rugby in the World Cup. Bringing that experience he has generally, and particularly in the World Cup, will be very valuable to us.

"What I have noticed is that John has a terrific work ethic. He is very intelligient and professional about knowing what he has to do. He has made a point of making sure he understands what his role with us will be. I have been impressed by the fact he is also a guy who just comes in and gets on with it."

For Solomons the vital thing about tonight is that the side needs to get its winning style back. "We have to get our performance right," he said. "We did not play well last week. Our decision making was poor and our catch pass skills poor and our line-out malfunction. It is probably not a bad thing that the focus shifts a little bit to a different competition. That could be a positive."

Edinburgh: D Fife; D Hoyland, W Helu, M Scott, T Brown; G Tonks, S Hidalgo-Clyne; A Dickinson, R Ford, WP Nel, A Bresler, A Toolis, M Coman (C), J Hardie, C Du Preez. Replacements: N Cochrane, R Sutherland, J Andress, N Manu, H Watson, S Kennedy, B Kinghorn, C Dean.

Grenoble: C Gelin; T Nemani, C Farrell, J Willison, D Kilioni; G Bosch, J Hart (C); F Barcella, L Jammes, K Goze, J Percival, M Marie, M Diaby, F Alexandre, D Hayes. Replacements: A Heguy, S Taumalolo, W Desmaison, B Hand, S Setephano, C Loustalot, X Mignot, L Dupont.

Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales)