Big Bill Mata embarks on a trademark rumble off the base of a solid scrum and makes good headway down the blind-side.

But Glasgow have the Edinburgh backs' number, a loose pass from George Taylor putting Blair Kinghorn under immense pressure behind the gain line and Warriors win a penalty at the breakdown.

Adam Hastings steps up to attempt to land the first points of the evening...

Again, Glasgow try to build phases. Again, an error halts their efforts. Sam Johnson runs the arc at an outside shoulder but loses the ball forward in contact, and we have the first scrum of the evening on five minutes.

Peter Wright
Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

Edinburgh test Jackson with a towering garryowen, and the Glasgow full-back is hit a millisecond before his feet touch the ground by opposite number Blair Kinghorn.

Adam Hastings boots play back into the visitors' half.

An early dart from Huw Jones as Glasgow build the first phases of attacking play. They can't build much momentum, though, as Ruaridh Jackson's probing kick sails out on the full and Edinburgh have a line-out on halfway which they claim cleanly.

We're off! Adam Hastings gets derby number one of the season under way.

We're a couple of minutes away from the big kick-off in Glasgow. Here come the teams...

Peter Wright
Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

Colin Gregor
Former Scotland Sevens captain on BBC Radio Scotland

Speaking of Fijians, tonight's fixture pits Edinburgh number eight Viliame Mata and Glasgow back Niko Matawalu against each other.

These pair are absolute darlings of their respective supports - and no wonder. Mata makes metres, smashes defenders and off-loads like very few can. Matawalu's dazzling, outrageous and wildly unpredictable attack game make him one of Europe's most dangerous players.

The two of them played for Fiji during the World Cup a few months back, and now lock horns in Glasgow's frigid West End.

Image source, SNS

Behind the scenes, Glasgow are confident Leone Nakarawa will return to the club in the New Year, and could even be available for their trip to Benetton on 4 January.

The Fiji lock, a free agent since being sacked by Racing 92 for his late return from the Rugby World Cup, cemented himself as one of the finest forwards in the game during three years at Scotstoun.

His outrageous off-loading, heft in the tight and all-round rugby intelligence would give Glasgow a timely boost after a poor start to the season.

Image source, SNS

Such is the rather incestuous nature of Scottish rugby, these fixtures tend to give players a crack at their former sides.

Henry Pyrgos and Mark Bennett won the Pro12 with Glasgow four years ago, but now line up for Edinburgh. Jamie Bhatti, a former cow slaughterer, moved east over summer.

George Turner spent years being largely ignored and underused at Edinburgh, and has now found a welcome home at Scotstoun. Fellow hooker Fraser Brown also had a spell in the capital during his younger days.

It's all part of the derby-day experience.

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A special milestone this evening for Duhan van der Merwe, who makes his 50th Edinburgh appearance.

The big winger, signed from Montpellier in the summer of 2017, has been a stupendous addition. In his 49 outings to date, Van der Merwe has racked up 26 tries. The South African is huge, rapid, and a fantastic finisher.

Glasgow - and especially Adam Hastings - know all about that. In the Murrayfield encounter this time last season, Van der Merwe picked off two passes from the Warriors pivot and galloped in for tries.

He'll become eligible for Scotland in the summer... just in time for the tour of his homeland.

Would you like to see him don the thistle? Give us a thumbs-up for yes, a thumbs-down for no...

Image source, SNS

Right then, time to gauge the mood of the fans following these updates.

Hit thumbs-up if you reckon Glasgow are going to make a mockery of all the "favourites" talk and give their capital foes a beating.

Click thumbs-down if you see this one going with recent form and delivering a salt-and-sauce victory.

Glasgow are eager to strengthen their back-row options for next season, but Springboks flanker Marco van Staden won't be joining them.

Warriors have been keeping an eye on the Bulls man for several seasons, but Van Staden, who played for the Barbarians last month, has chosen to stay in South Africa.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Peter Wright
Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

Glasgow are without suspended Matt Fagerson - one of their stand-out players this season - for tonight's derby.

The number eight is banned for three weeks after his red card against La Rochelle on Saturday.

That's a big blow for Warriors. Fagerson, still just 21, is growing into a fine player with his dynamism, footwork and prowess at the breakdown, and has been Glasgow's best back-row this term.

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill on BBC Radio Scotland: "Glasgow probably haven’t been on the form they’re used to and we’ve been going okay. Derbies are very different days, away from home, they’ll be very motivated and I hope we’re exactly the same.

"The last two seasons we’ve played this game and they’ve been flying and we’ve put them under pressure and we’ve got results. We’ve just got to keep performing as well as we can, we’ve got a good habit of eking out wins, and it’s going to be very tough tonight.

"It should be a good game and it’s good for Scottish rugby that we’re talking like this – around two teams with very good players and we’re not sure what the result’s going to be."

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie on BBC Radio Scotland: "With the Pro14 conference we’re in, it’s pretty tough. To qualify [for the play-offs] we need to pick up some wins now so these are big games for us.

"We’re actually playing a lot of good footie, making lots of line breaks but not converting. That’s different to the past couple of years. We need to be patient and really sharp around that. And we’ve switched off twice a game and conceded two tries – that needs to be better.

"Edinburgh have a very structured kicking game and try and choke you. We’ve got to be prepared to kick a bit of ball to Edinburgh. Our big men are going really well so we’ve got no worries about going toe-to-toe at set-pieces and around the edges."