There was more than a trace of relief in the Murrayfield air yesterday as Edinburgh unveiled a team featuring six personnel changes, with key figures returning to action for Saturday's Heineken Cup opener against Leinster.

Back after being sidelined by injury for last weekend's defeat in Newport are Simon Webster, making his competitive debut for the season, Chris Paterson and Alan MacDonald. Returning after being rested are half-backs Mike Blair, the captain, and Phil Godman as well as front-row forwards Ross Ford and Geoff Cross.

Andy Robinson, the head coach, has identified the tie as crucial to doing anything in the competition. While it is only the first of six pool matches, his logic is unerring.

In last year's corresponding fixture, Edinburgh lost 19-15 to Toulouse at Murrayfield. It was, he noted, the only away win achieved by any of the sides in a pool containing Leicester and Saturday's opponents. Edinburgh finished bottom of the pile, while Toulouse reached the final.

Robinson felt that only in the final 25 minutes against Toulouse had his men seemed to realise they could win. Although his side have lost four of five league matches, including a 50-point thrashing by Leinster, they believe they can win this weekend, he says, because so many of his team's star players are back.

He would also like to have had Ben Cairns and Ross Rennie available but the overall impression is of a very different team to that which travelled to Newport or, for that matter, Dublin last month.

"Leinster . . . wow, what a team," Robinson said. "The quality they had was exceptional even before they brought in the likes of Rocky Elsom and CJ Van Der Linde. However we've got players like Ally Hogg, Mike Blair, Simon Webster, Nick De Luca, Chris Paterson and Ross Ford.

"Look at De Luca versus Brian O'Driscoll. That has been a fascinating battle the last few times they've played against one another. We have the ability to win this weekend. With that all said, it's then about having the belief in how we can play."

In thanking his coaches for giving him the extra week to regain fitness when he might have been risked in Newport, Webster reaffirmed the message that a great deal has been geared towards this first European tie. He outlined why Edinburgh think they can beat any team in the competition.

The Scotland winger said: "Our back line has changed a lot in the last three or four years. We always had excellent players, but we didn't have as many strike runners as we do now. Leinster will be aware of the poor record they have here, including what was a massive must-win Heineken Cup game for them last season when they lost. Our challenge is concentrating on how we want to play because we know we can beat them here."

Team: Edinburgh (v Leinster, Heineken Cup, Murrayfield, Saturday, 1.35pm) CPaterson; MRobertson, HSouthwell, NDe Luca, SWebster; PGodman, MBlair (capt); AJacobsen, RFord, GCross, MMustchin, JHamilton, SNewlands, AHogg, AMacDonald Substitutes: AKelly, GKerr, BGissing, CHamilton, GLaidlaw, DBlair, JHouston