MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Saturday, 4 September Kick-off: 1830 BST Coverage: Live on S4C, score updates on BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Rob Moffat feels his Edinburgh side are in good shape as they prepare to take on Cardiff Blues in Wales on Saturday.

"The pre-season has gone well, the conditioning guys have done a really good job and the players have applied themselves well," said the head coach.

"We had two matches, against London Irish and Bath, and have used a lot of players. Now the season starts proper.

"We've got a good record in Cardiff - we have won there the last three years. That gives us confidence."

Moffat has used 29 players in his two pre-season friendly matches and is satisfied that he has given so many the chance to get match-fit.

Now the squad are on the verge of kicking off what will be a busy and tiring campaign.

"It's going to be a long season," Moffat told BBC Scotland.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Are Edinburgh fans looking forward to the new season?

"The two Italian teams (Treviso and Aironi) are included, which is good, but that's another four games.

"That's on top of the league season, the Heineken Cup, guys playing for the A team, full internationals, and obviously the World Cup is next season at this time."

Cardiff have traditionally been slow starters but they are boosted by fly-half Dan Parks, who will come up against Scotland team-mate Phil Godman.

The Edinburgh star will be making his 100th Magners League match.

"It's early days for him," said Moffat of fly-half Godman as he tries to achieve full fitness following injury. "He'll probably take a week or two to get into it.

"We know Dan Parks well and he has performed very well for Glasgow and Scotland and no doubt he'll be passing on some tips and knowledge to Cardiff about Edinburgh."

"This Magners League is very tight. Everyone wants to get off to a good start but we also realise it is a long season.

"Whatever happens on Saturday, we'll be looking forward to the Munster game as well and we'll move on."

Among those who will be pulling on Edinburgh's colours this season are centre Alex Grove, back-row forward Netani Talei and sevens specialist Lee Jones.

"They give us something a bit different, a bit extra. They played in the Guinness Premiership; Netani is a Fijian so he brings something different in the way he plays the game.

"We've brought in Lee Jones, who was playing club rugby with Selkirk the last few years and he fully deserves his chance.

"It brings a bit of added spark and excitement and professional rugby is about that. You need to freshen things up and hopefully these guys can add to what we have."

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