Gough played at blindside flanker in the Welsh Premiership fixture at Llanelli before Christmas and Newport coach Leigh Jones has switched him again to try to counter the strength of the Edinbrugh line-out.
Mike Voyle comes into the second row to partner skipper Simon Raiwalui and Adrian Garvey returns to the front row after injury. Other changes from the side beaten in Toulouse last weekend see Luke Nabaro take over from Dale Burn on the wing and Hal Luscombe replace the injured Andy marinos at centre.
NEWPORT RUGBY: Shane Howarth; Matt Mostyn, Hal Luscombe, Jon Pritchard, Luke Nabaro; Jason Strange, Ofisa Tonu’u; Rod Snow, James Richards, Adrian Garvey, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Mike Voyle, Ian Gough, Jason Forster, Andy Powell.
Replacements: Ceri Jones, Paul Young, Adrian Garvey, Matthew Veater, Rhys Jones, Scott Williams, Dale Burn.