ADAM Ashe is in the Glasgow Warriors squad for the first time this season for the Boxing Day game against Edinburgh - and he does not expect a gentle welcome back after recovering from a hip operation.

The 23-year-old played 40 minutes for Ayr against Melrose last weekend, but has otherwise seen no action since the PRO12 semi-final loss to Connacht at the end of last season. Earlier this week he pledged his future to the Warriors by signing a new contract, and after being named in the squad yesterday he insisted he was ready for what is usually one of the toughest games of the year between two groups of players desperate to stake a claim in the Scotland team for the Six Nations.

“It’s a good one to come back to,” Ashe said. “I’ve been training with the team for three or four weeks now and it’s good to come back into such a big game as this, to go right back into the deep end. If I have to go on after five minutes I’ll just deal with it, get on with it, and I know the body will hold up.

“Last year it was very physical. Everyone ramps up their game, people want to impress because it’s right before the Six Nations, and the majority of players selected for Scotland come from these two teams. Yes, it was physical last year and we’re ready for it again this year.

“It’s a massive game to come back into, but I’ve already got that enjoyment factor back, being excited about being out on the pitch. There’s a lot at stake here so we all hope we can get the result.”

Ashe has played six times for Scotland since making his debut in 2014, but his priority right now is establishing himself in the Glasgow team. “I just want to get back playing some good rugby here and enjoying it,” he added. “The rest will take care of itself. Hopefully I can get a good block of games here and just get a consistent run at things, but it’s a contact sport and you have to be prepared.”

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend has rested Tommy Seymour, Ryan Wilson, Gordon Reid and Tim Swinson from the team that beat Racing 92 in the Champions Cup last weekend. “We always look forward to the 1872 Cup matches and Monday’s game will be a special occasion,” Townsend said. “We’re expecting a really tough match and we have been working hard to improve this week and deliver our best performance of the season at BT Murrayfield.”

Junior Bulumakau makes his first start of the season on the right wing, Alex Allan replaces Reid in the front row, Brian Alainu’uese plays at lock instead of Swinson, and Wilson gives way to Simone Favaro. Ex-Warriors fly-half Duncan Weir will start the game for Edinburgh, and another Glasgow old boy, full-back Glenn Bryce, is on the bench.

Glasgow Warriors (v Edinburgh at Murrayfield, Monday, 4.05pm): S Hogg; J Bulumakau, M Bennett, A Dunbar, L Jones; F Russell, H Pyrgos; A Allan, F Brown, Z Fagerson, B Alainu’uese, J Gray, R Harley, S Favaro, J Strauss. Substitutes: P MacArthur, R Grant, S Puafisi, A Ashe, C Fusaro, A Price, N Grigg, S Lamont.

Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; D Hoyland, C Dean, P Burleigh, T Brown; D Weir, S Hidalgo-Clyne; A Dickinson, R Ford, S Berghan, B Toolis, G Gilchrist, M Bradbury, H Watson, C du Preez. Substitutes: S McInally, A Dell, M McCallum, F McKenzie, V Mata, S Kennedy, J Tovey, G Bryce.