Ayr hope for benefits from Dan Carter clinic

AHEAD of today's crucial Premier A fixture with Dundee HSFP, Ayr coach Kenny Murray has revealed that the club's teenage star Mark Bennett has been practising his kicking with Dan Carter this week.

As a result of an initiative set up by Scottish Rugby to allow some academy players to learn from the best, Bennett has been shadowing the New Zealand squad.

It allowed him the opportunity to kick with Carter and he also spent some time with Mils Muliaina in training and, although Bennett will be missing the match against the Taysiders at Millbrae, Murray believes it is a great idea.

"Mark has come on well since he joined us in the summer and with him being given the exposure to top class players this week it will only help his development. Hopefully he will come back to us with more confidence and ready to help us out over a very important spell," he said.

That important spell starts today at Milllbrae - which is expected to pass a morning pitch inspection - with the Scottish Cup holders in third place taking on Ian Rankin's free scoring squad.

It then continues with further Premier A matches Glasgow Hawks, Melrose and Currie before they begin their British & Irish Cup campaign with encounters against Pontypridd and Llandovery - all before Christmas.

"This really is a massive spell for us and every match is like a cup final," Murray added.

Currie have announced that Scotland Club International hooker Finlay Gillies, who was on the bench for Edinburgh last week, has joined them from Heriot's ahead of their home clash with Hawick.

He starts on the bench, while Hawick have scrum-half Greg Cottrell back after a head knock.

Melrose have been boosted by the inclusion of pros Lee Jones, Alex Blair and Fraser Brown as they prepare to host Heriot's.

Backs Jones and Blair will start, with hooker Brown on the bench, while Heriot's head to the Greenyards with former Melrose favourite James King, released by Edinburgh, forming an exciting looking centre pairing with Max Learmonth.

In Premier B - where all teams start on zero points - Selkirk have key men Neil Darling and David Cassidy back as they get set to travel to Raeburn Place to take on Edinburgh Accies.

For Accies Matt Coupar, Johnny Adams, Kenny Blyth and Robin Snape return to the starting line-up.

Watsonians have back-row men Duncan Finnie and Harris Grant back as they prepare for a tough test against Gala at Myreside.

West of Scotland travel to Peebles still without teenage scrum-half Murray McConnell, while the home team will be confirmed this morning.

And Stirling County know that Aberdeen Grammar will put up a stern test on their home patch at Rubislaw.

In Premier C Stewart's Melville have Scotland Sevens' man Scott Riddell back at the club as they prepare to take on Jed-Forest at Inverleith.

Falkirk are at home to Hillhead/Jordanhill and GHA are hosting Kirkcaldy.

The majority of matches are at 2pm, except Ayr-Dundee HSFP at 2.45pm and Melrose-Heriot's at 1pm.

Ayr: G Anderson; A Wilson, S Forrest, R McCallum, C Taylor; R Curle, AJ MacFarlane; G Reid, S Adair, S Fenwick, D Kelly, G Tippet, J Crossan, A Dunlop, R Colhoun. Subs: R Fergusson, F Climo, D Stewart, S Nimmo, A Kelly.

Dundee HSFP: J Urquhart; S Coleman, H Duthie, C Strachan, J Fleming; R McKenna, A Dymock; N Dymock, S Forrest, A Brown, A Linton, R Hawkins, C Cumming, S McInally, D Levison. Subs: D Russell, S Cessford, R Cessford, R Milne, C Wade.

Currie: D Fife, A Turnbull, H Abercrombie, A MacMahon, J Johnstone; M Scott, R Snedden; J Cox, S Simonsen, A Hamilton, R Wilson, G Temple, M Cairns, R Weston, M Entwhistle. Subs: F Gillies, N Scobie, R Merrilees, S Burton, A Binikos.

Hawick: N Renwick; S Anderson, G Johnstone, A Dunbar, C Robertson; G Hogg, G Cottrell; S Linton, L Gibson, R Sutherland, C Charters, M Robertson, D Lowrie, B McNeil, D Denton. Subs: C Ritson, B Campbell, K Davies, N MacTaggart, M Landels.

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, A Blair, L Jones; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, R Miller, J Dalziel, G Dodds, B Runciman. Subs: F Brown, N Beavon, H Mitchell, S McCormick, C Jackson.

Heriot's FP: C Gougie; G Bryce, M Learmonth, J King, M Nimmo; G Hunter, G Wilson; A Dymock, S Burnett, G Cameron, CJ Osazuwa, J Hill, P Eccles, J Syme, S Dewar. Subs: K Bryce, W Blacklock, A Spence, M Goldie, R Mill.