PERFORM or be dropped: it has always been the simple mantra from Richard Cockerill since he arrived as Edinburgh head coach and he has yet again proved it was no bluff by leaving big names out of the team for tonight’s match against the Cheetahs.

“I’ve picked the team that I think deserves to play,” Cockerill said. “Some guys have been left out from a selection point of view and Allan Dell is rested through the international protocols. The midfield is picked because the other two didn’t play well enough. It’s the same with Dougie Fife. Darcy [Graham] gets his opportunity because Dougie has not played well enough for the last three weeks.

“I’m disappointed in how we let in soft tries [against Benetton] because it’s not like us. We have defended very well last year and this year. To be so soft to play against isn’t good enough, it’s as simple as that. Guys have paid for that with their place in the team.”

Fife is joined on the touchline by Scotland international Matt Scott and Chris Dean, the other centre, as Cockerill wielded the axe after the poor defensive showing that almost cost them the game against Benetton Treviso last week.

“It’s a good side, we need to beat Cheetahs,” he added. “The league is very important to us and we need the points. If guys don’t do what they need to do, then other guys will get their opportunity. We’re not under any illusions about how well we have to play. We can’t think about Montpellier [in the Heineken Champions Cup] until we get this game out of the way.

“We’ve had some good meetings and we’ve spoken around some fundamental parts of what we need to be like as a team. That’s both how we play and also how we approach our work on the field and in training. That’s reflected in the side I’ve picked.”

Dropping players like that does create gaps. Juan Pablo Socino and James Johnstone were in Cockerill’s plans anyway, but the player who gets the biggest leap up the ladder is Graham. It has been a hard year for the youngster since he signed for Edinburgh, with injuries restricting his chances.

“He’s very motivated, a good young player who I want to give opportunities to,” Cockerill said. “We all think a lot of him so why shouldn’t he get an opportunity in front of a senior guy when that guy is not doing what he should be doing?”

Cockerill’s changes in the pack are confined mainly to those forced on him, including resting Dell, the prop, under Scotland team orders. That opens up a chance for Rory Sutherland to make his first start of the season with Murray McCallum, usually a tighthead, deputising at loosehead while Cockerill adopts the same no-nonsense, “you only play if you deserve it” approach to Darryl Marfo.

“I watch him train every day; when I think he deserves to play in the team he will play in the team, but until then he will keep working at his game,” Cockerill said.

Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; D Graham, J Johnstone, J Pablo Socino, D van der Merwe; S Hickey, H Pyrgos; R Sutherland, S McInally (C), W Nel, B Toolis, G Gilchrist, M Bradbury, H Watson, B Mata. Replacements: R Ford, M McCallum, S Berghan, L Hamilton, J Ritchie, S Kennedy, J van der Walt, C Dean.

Cheetahs: L Fouche; W Small Smith, B van Rensburg, N Lee, R Maxwane; T Schoeman, T Meyer; O Nce, J Du Toit, A Coetzee, J Basson, J du Preez, N Jordaan, J Pokamela, S Malan. Replacements: J Dweba, C Marais, G Janse van Vuuren, W Steenkamp, D Maartens, A Nonkontwana, S Venter, A Mgijima.

Referee: M Mitrea (Italy)