Cairns return boosts Currie

Mark Cairns returns from injury to captain Currie in their British & Irish Cup match with Ulster tonight.

The Scotland Sevens man will start in the back-row along with usual sidekicks Mike Entwhistle and Ross Weston, while prop Colin Phillips and centre Andy MacMahon also return to the starting XV.

Teenager Jamie Forbes moves to stand-off from full-back with fellow youngster Gregor Hunter not made available by Edinburgh and James Johnstone earns a starting place on the wing.

Currie lost their opening match to Leeds Tykes 31-16 last week and head coach Ally Donaldson said: “The Leeds match was a big step up from Premier 1 in terms of speed and physicality and this may be yet another step up. However, we really enjoy these matches and enjoy playing at Malleny and are very excited at the prospect.”

Currie: B Mansfield; J Johnstone, D Fife, A MacMahon, A Whittingham; J Forbes, Leck; J Cox, F Scott, C Phillips, S Marcell, G Temple, M Cairns, R Weston, M Entwhistle. Subs: M Vernal, N Dymock, S Burton, M Peacock, AN Other, D Smith.

Ulster: P Nelson; C Gaston, M Allen, I Whitten, C Cochrane; J McKinney, B McIlroy; C Black, A Kyriacou, C Carey, T Barker, N McComb, C Joyce, S O’Connor, A Birch. Subs: N Annett, R Lutton, J Simpson, N Faloon, M Heaney, C Quinn, R Andrew.