Gray is one of five changes to the starting line-up that took the field away to Exeter three weeks ago, as Wilson's men look to kick 2021 off with a bang.
In the front-row Aki Seiuli replaces the unavailable Oli Kebble and is joined at the coal face by Zander Fagerson and hooker George Turner.
Fresh from signing a new long term deal with the club, Scott Cummings packs down with fellow Scotland second-row Richie Gray in the boiler house.
Wilson has opted for an unchanged back-row with captain Ryan Wilson at six, Tom Gordon at seven and Matt Fagerson at eight.
In an all Scottish qualified back-line, Brandon Thomson makes his first start of the season at fly-half and is joined by Ali Price at scrum-half.
In the midfield, Sam Jonson starts at inside centre and is once again paired up with Nick Grigg outside him at 13.
Lee Jones retains his place in the back three and is joined by Ratu Tagive on the opposite wing with Huw Jones at full-back.
On the bench Glasgow academy fly-half Ross Thomson is in line to make his professional debut and become 319th player to take the field for Glasgow Warriors.
George Thornton is named on the bench with the loosehead in line to make his first appearance for the club in almost 14 months as he is named alongside Enrique Pieretto and Johnny Matthews as front row cover.
TJ Ioane and Lewis Bean complete the forward replacements, with the latter returning to the Warriors on loan from Northampton Saints.
The replacements are completed by full-back Glenn Bryce and young scrum-half Jamie Dobie.
Speaking about his selection, Head Coach Danny Wilson told glasgowwarriors.org: "Derbies like these are the games you want to be involved in, and after a layoff after COVID the boys are motivated and looking forward to getting back onto the pitch.
"We have trained well this week and are looking forward to the challenge of a strong Edinburgh side away from home."
15 Huw Jones
14 Lee Jones
13 Nick Grigg
12 Sam Johnson
11 Ratu Tagive
10 Brandon Thomson
9 Ali Price
1 Aki Seiuli
2 George Turner
3 Zander Fagerson
4 Richie Gray
5 Scott Cummings
6 Ryan Wilson (Captain)
7 Tom Gordon
8 Matt Fagerson
Substitutes
16 Johnny Matthews
17 George Thornton
18 Enrique Pieretto
19 Lewis Bean
20 TJ Ioane
21 Jamie Dobie
22 Ross Thompson
23 Glenn Bryce
Unavailable for selection: Alex Allan, Fraser Brown, Robert Harley, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Peter Horne, Oli Kebble, Sean Kennedy, Kiran McDonald, Rufus McLean, Nikola Matawalu, Leone Nakarawa, Tommy Seymour, Kyle Steyn