Beattie back in action as Ayr seek second cup win on the road

Glasgow's Scotland international Johnnie Beattie will continue his comeback from injury by turning out for Ayr again in the British and Irish Cup this afternoon at Rotherham, with the Millbrae men looking for their second away win in a week.

Last Sunday's fine 18-12 victory at Birmingham & Solihull was the first win in the competition by a Scottish team on their travels.

And if they can get a similar result today in Yorkshire it will set them up nicely for forthcoming home matches with Llandovery and Doncaster in pool D.

With key men Richard McCallum and Andy Dunlop - the latter who was just pipped to man of the match honours by Rob Colhoun last week - being out with foot injuries, it means a reshuffle to the starting line-up.

Teenage prospect Robbie Fergusson, whose stock rose further with the winning try in the Midlands, moves from centre to stand-off to replace McCallum, with Scott Nimmo taking Dunlop's berth in the back-row.

Glasgow Hawks duo Nick Campbell and Dean Kelbrick have been made available and the former will partner skipper Damien Kelly in the second-row and the latter will start at outside centre.

Ayr coach Kenny Murray said: "We are confident that if we perform to our potential we can get a result at Rotherham and this would leave us having to win our two home games to reach the quarter finals, which is not an impossible task particularly with a number of players - including Glen Tippett, Scott Sutherland, Nick Cox, Paul Burke, Ross Curle and Andy Wilson - due back from injury and holiday over the next two weeks."

Tomorrow, Currie and Melrose are also on their travels to Leinster and Nottingham respectively. In pool A, Currie have lost two out of two, but could have beaten Newport at Malleny Park and will give it their all in Dublin.

Their hopes have not been helped by a number of late call-offs, though - Ryan Wilson, Steven Turnbull, Andy Turnbull, Dougie Fife and Andy MacMahon - are all out. The loss of Wilson and Edinburgh pro Steven Turnbull gives Adam Best and Gary Temple an opportunity in the second-row.

Melrose are boosted by the inclusion of Glasgow professional Dave McCall, who starts on the wing in place of Chris Hardie. Ross Miller is back in the second-row. The match will be played at Notts County's football ground Meadow Lane.

Ayr (to play Rotherham away today at 2pm): G Anderson; D Steele, D Kelbrick, M Stewart, C Taylor; R Fergusson, AJ MacFarlane; G Reid, S Fenwick, A Kelly, D Kelly, N Campbell, S Nimmo, J Beattie, R Colhoun. Subs: G Sykes, S Adair, G Strang, D Stewart, S Manning, K Hamilton, Gibson Siwo.

Currie (to play Leinster away tomorrow at 2pm): J Smith; T Brown, H Abercrombie, A Dunbar, J Johnstone; A Binikos, R Snedden; J Cox, F Gillies, A Hamilton, A Best, G Temple, M Cairns, R Weston, M Entwhistle. Subs: S Simonsen, R Merrilees, N Scobie, AN Other, M Scott, A Whittingham, F Harkness.

Melrose (to play Nottingham away tomorrow at 3pm): F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J Helps, D McCall; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, R Miller, J Dalziel, G Dodds, D Crawford. Subs: G Innes, N Beavon, H Mitchell, S Johnston, S McCormick, C Jackson, C Hardie.