Darcy Graham is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with his groin injury, according to Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt.
Last week, Gregor Townsend revealed the Hawick-born winger won’t feature for Scotland in the Six Nations after picking up a new injury while training with Edinburgh ahead of their trip to Zebre.
Everitt believes he will be without Graham for the foreseeable future.
He said: “We’ve been waiting for him to see the surgeon and get an opinion from the orthopaedics. He hasn’t had the opportunity to see the guy yet and he’ll see him this week.
“We’d like to see him in the latter part of the season, but from what I can gather it will be a long-term injury.”
While he won’t have Graham available for Friday’s clash with Ospreys, Everitt can welcome back half a dozen Scotland squad members fresh from Calcutta Cup success.
The Edinburgh pack is bolstered by the release of props WP Nel – who has recovered from a neck injury – and Javan Sebastian, as well as locks Glen Young and Sam Skinner, and Hamish Watson is available in the back-row.
Behind the scrum Ali Price, Ben Healy and Harry Paterson have also been released by the Scotland squad.
The South African said he’s pleased to have so many experienced players back for a crucial URC fixture.
He added: “It certainly does help us, especially in the lock department where both last week and in the previous game we had two out. We’re getting experience back there - Sam Skinner is a seasoned campaigner and played a lot of Test matches, so it’s great to get him back for a game which is important to us here at home.
“And it’s always good to get Ben Healy back, who played well in the previous game.”
He also revealed WP Nel is being managed back from a neck injury.
Everitt said: "He has been struggling with his neck and he might have had a flare-up during the week last week.
“We're a bit wary of his neck because it does flare up from time to time, but if he does get through this week he'll definitely be up for selection [for Scotland].”
The Edinburgh coach was among the crowd at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday as Edinburgh’s Duhan van der Merwe made history by becoming the first Scot to score a Calcutta Cup hat-trick.
“We were very happy with Duhan,” he added.
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“Obviously the club is very proud of the guys who play for Scotland, especially at home against England, and for him to get a hat-trick - for us it was really pleasing and we’re delighted for him.
“He’s done well for our club, so I think it’s deserved. He’s scored a lot of tries for us as well, and every time he has worn the Edinburgh jersey he’s played with the same passion as he has for Scotland. So I’m just pleased for him.
“Last year in the Six Nations he got man of the match against England as well, so well done to him.”
Everitt's side go into Friday's game fifth in the URC, six points behind Glasgow in second place, but six points behind their rivals from the west.
The South African said the lack of a cutting edge has been costly for his side so far this campaign.
He added: "We're in the top three for line breaks so obviously there's a completion issue. It's just about being more patient with the ball in hand, especially when we get into the area about 10m out we've got to be more clinical there.
"It's something we got right against Scarlets, but let it slip against Zebre because we had opportunities there.
"Bonus points are costing us at the moment - if you look at the number of wins all teams have won similar - it's the bonus points that are the difference."
He knows a bonus point win over seventh-placed Ospreys would buy his side breathing space going into a two-match tour to South Africa.
"This game against Ospreys is also about us denying them a bonus point because they are on our heels.
"If we can get five [points] and deny them we'll go six clear of them which is one less [team] to worry about in the short-term."
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