MacLeod left the Scarlets in January after spending two-and-a-half successful years with the west Wales region.
The lanky lock admits he is excited about the prospect of making his Edinburgh bow on Sunday (kick off 4.10pm).
Following a handful of appearances for Scotland ‘A’, Edinburgh’s back-up team and as a replacement at Munster two weeks ago the 29-year-old is on the threshold of starting for his new team; something he is eager to experience.
MacLeod said: “It is really exciting and I couldn’t think of a better game for me to possibly make my first start in.
“There is a bit of fire in my belly about playing the Scarlets. I want to play well for Edinburgh and the fact it is against my old team gives the game bit more of an edge.
“I made a lot of good friends at Scarlets and I enjoyed my time there, so it will be an interesting match and I’m looking forward to it.”
On the topic of his fitness, MacLeod believes he is getting sharper and said: “I am feeling better all the time and the training sessions have been pretty intense.
“I played the full 80 minutes for Scotland ‘A’ on Friday and, although I didn’t have my best game, it was important as I’m building my fitness up. I need to show I’m worthy of starting place for Edinburgh because there is so much competition for places.
“Hopefully I’ll be given an opportunity on Sunday and it will be a chance to put down a marker. The move has worked out well so far. It has been good and I feel like I’m being challenged every day in training – both by [coach] Andy Robinson and my team-mates.
“On the rugby side of things it has gone well and, on a personal note, with my family being closer to home it has been good for my wife and kid to be near grandparents, aunts and uncles.”
Head coach Andy Robinson has delayed naming his final side for the trip to West Wales. But Scotland internationalists Simon Webster and Hugo Southwell have been added to the provisional 26-man squad alongside first year professional Fraser McKenzie and Scotland under-20 centre Ashleah McCulloch.
Edinburgh squad to play Scarlets: Hugo Southwell, Chris Paterson, Ben Cairns, Ashleah McCulloch+, Nick De Luca, Calum MacRae, Simon Webster, Marc Teague, Mark Robertson, David Blair, Greig Laidlaw, Ben Meyer; Kyle Traynor, Bruce McNeil, Ryan Grant, Steve Lawrie, Andrew Kelly, Sean Crombie, Craig Hamilton, Scott MacLeod, Ben Gissing, Simon Cross, Scott Newlands, Fraser McKenzie, Alan MacDonald, Allister Hogg.
