Edinburgh go over in the corner and think they have scored the opening try of the game, but a very harsh forward pass call denies them.

They have a penalty advantage to fall back on though, and will come again...

The first scrum of the season is reset a couple of times by Andrea Piardi, before a big Edinburgh nudge earns the hosts a penalty.

Ross Thompson kicks towards the corner, and this is now a real chance...

Edinburgh turn the ball over in Leinster's half, but Matt Scott gets slightly carried away and his attempted cross-field kick to Duhan van der Merwe is off target.

The opening six minutes have been played at a frantic pace.

Tommy O'Brien tries to dart over in the corner for Leinster, but some strong defence from Jamie Dobie and Jamie Ritchie forces the winger into touch.

This time, Edinburgh do clear their lines.

Leinster have the first real spell of possession of the game, and work their way into Edinburgh's 22 before a strong tackle bundles Tommy O'Brien into touch.

Ah, but Dave Cherry can't find his mark and Leinster win a penalty.

They kick to the corner...

Referee Andrea Piardi peeps his whistle, and Edinburgh fly-half Ross Thompson finally gets us up and running.

The officials can't currently communicate with each other due to a technology failure.

Strong start.

The players are out on a mild autumnal evening in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh in dark blue with orange trim, while Leinster are in their change strip - white and light blue.

We're just about ready to go...

Edinburgh were hugely disappointing in Sean Everitt's first season in charge, finishing 10th in the URC and missing out on the play-offs.

They won plenty of games, but struggled to score tries and it was a lack of bonus points that ended up costing them. A repeat finish is unthinkable for a side with the quality of players they possess.

Meanwhile, Leinster finished third in the regular league standings, before a semi-final defeat to the Bulls.

It means they have now gone three years without a trophy, which constitutes a real silverware drought for a club of Leinster's stature.

Both sides will want to start their season strongly here.

Gus McCarthy makes his first start for Leinster tonight, with the former Ireland Under-20 captain named in the front row with Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.

Leo Cullen has opted for a mix of youth and experience with fellow academy graduates Charlie Tector and Conor O’Tighearnaigh also starting.

Tector partners Garry Ringrose at centre, as Jamison Gibson-Park returns from a hamstring injury, which ruled him out of Ireland's Test games against South Africa.

Jack Conan captains the side at number eight, with Max Deegan and Scott Penny also starting in an unchanged back row from the 54-26 pre-season win over Northampton Saints two weeks ago.

Cian Healy will equal Devin Toner's club appearance record if he comes off the bench to play his 280th Leinster game.

Irish internationals Caelan Doris and James Lowe are missing, while Dan Sheehan is out with a knee injury.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

A late change to the bench for Edinburgh ahead of their URC opener against Leinster.

Emiliano Boffelli, the lesser-spotted Puma in these parts, is out and his place in the reserves goes to Matt Scott, who's making his return to Edinburgh.

Sell-out game tonight. A big night for a club that needs to put last season's horror show behind them

New recruit Mosese Tuipulotu is one of three debutants in the Edinburgh side tonight.

Tuipulotu starts at outside-centre having made a summer move from NSW Waratahs, with fellow new arrivals, tighthead Paul Hill and fly-half Ross Thompson, also picked by head coach Sean Everitt.

Fit-again Scotland wing Darcy Graham plays his first competitive match in eight months and joins Wes Goosen and Duhan van der Merwe in the back three, while Ben Muncaster is chosen at number eight.

Grant Gilchrist leads the side at lock after being named co-captain for his 14th season and Marshall Sykes joins him in the second row.

Image source, SNS

Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, Tuipulotu, Currie, Van der Merwe, Thompson, Price; Schoeman, Cherry, Hill, Sykes, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Muncaster.

Replacements: Ashman, Venter, Rae, Hodgson, Bradbury, Vellacott, Healy, Scott.

Leinster: Osborne, O'Brien, Ringrose, Tector, Larmour, Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Milne, McCarthy, Clarkson, O'Tighearnaigh, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Conan.

Replacements: McKee, Healy, Slimani, Deeny, Culhane, McGrath, Byrne, Russell.

The United Rugby Championship is back, and we've got a belter to kick things off, as Edinburgh host Leinster in Murrayfield's shadow.

We'll keep you across all the action from the Scottish capital, so grab yourself a drink and put your feet up - no better way to spend your Friday night.

Kick-off is around 30 minutes away, so let's get stuck in...

Image source, SNS