Club rugby: This weekend’s games

Aberdeen take on Heriot’s, Boroughmuir are at home to Glasgow, Ayr travel to Dundee, Edinburgh entertain Gala, Hawick play Currie and Stirling face Melrose.

Aberdeen v Heriot’s

The Granite City men can all but clinch their top eight spot with victory today while Heriot’s are fighting to keep hopes alive. Props Matt Dixon and Callum McConnachie start for the hosts, Rab Barrie comes in against his old club and Rob Lawson links up at half-back with Fraser Lyle, after the latter impressed as a sub last week. Heriot’s have youngster Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and experienced scrum-half Graham Wilson pulling the strings.

Venue: Rubislaw. Key clash: Fraser Lyle v Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.

Heriot’s: C Goudie; A Scott, C Ferguson, J Kohn, M Learmonth; S Hidalgo-Clyne, G Wilson; A Dymock, K Bryce, G Cameron, R Martin, M Reid, R Cessford, F Brown, J Hill.

Subs: K Traynor, S Mustard, CJ Osazuwa, M Nimmo, G Lawson.

Aberdeen: S Aitken; C Anderson, W Wardlaw, W Percival, E Oag; F Lyle, R Lawson; M Dixon, S O’Connor, C McConnachie, E Nimmons, M Douglas (capt), S Warnock, R Barrie, G Ryan.

Subs: N Fraser, R Allen, T McGuinness, A Alapati/R Aloe, M Ward.

Boroughmuir v Glasgow Hawks

Boroughmuir are bidding to bounce back from defeat at Ayr but are without talisman Malcolm Clapperton due to a hamstring injury, but he is replaced by Stevie Wilson at centre. Matt Harvey starts in the six jersey with Jamie Swanson dropping to the bench and youngster Alex Henderson comes into the squad after good performances for the 2nds. Hawks have a familiar line-up and know that they need to follow last week’s home win over Heriot’s with a first victory on the road to maintain the push towards the top eight.

Venue: Meggetland. Key clash: Harry Leonard v Dylan Karaitiana

Boroughmuir: A Warnock; S Visser, S Wilson, M Hare, J Webster; H Leonard, S Johnson; R Hislop, S Crombie, J Latta, G Scott, A Davidson, M Harvey, A Rose, I Moody.

Subs: N Fraser, B Blair, J Swanson, A Henderson, R Bradford.

Glasgow Hawks: A Horton; T Steven, K Gossman, M Martin, S Murray; D Karaitiana, Jericevich; S Findlay, J Macfarlane, G Hunter, R McKay, N Campbell, G Strang, A Barbieri, R Miller.

Subs: C Taylor, P Henderson, R Hamilton, K Hamilton, G Macdonald.

Dundee v Ayr

Richie McIvor wins selection at openside flanker for the Dundonians this week as reward for a fine second half against Currie, Cam Wyper replaces the injured Jack Steele at full-back, Harry Duthie starts at inside centre and James Fleming is back on the wing. Ayr go with the same pack for the first time this season and the only change to the side that beat Boroughmuir, to go a point ahead of today’s hosts, is the absence of Ross Curle, who has not recovered from a hand injury, so Richard Dalgleish steps up for his debut.

Venue: Mayfield. Key clash: Andy Kelly v Alan Brown.

Dundee: C Wyper; A McLean, R Lavery, H Duthie, J Fleming; C Brown, A Dymock; N Dymock (capt), S Forrest, A Brown, R Hawkins, A Linton, C Cumming, R McIver, D Levison.

Subs: D Russell, G Robertson, J Morrison, T Seabala, R Lemon.

Ayr: G Anderson; S Manning, R Dalgleish, M Stewart, S Diez; R Ferguson, AJ Macfarlane; A Kelly, H Wisneski, G Sykes, J Dunning, C White, J Willis, A Dunlop, G Fisken.

Subs: S Fenwick, S Sutherland, B McPherson, C Davidson, C Taylor.

Edinburgh Accies v Gala

Gala are safe in the top eight post-split, but George Graham’s Maroons know that an away win this afternoon would maintain the pressure on rivals Melrose ahead of back-to-back home games, the latter against ‘Rose. Accies are ninth and need a home win to move into contention for a top eight spot. They have Edinburgh prop Lewis Niven back to help, while Mike Campbell replaces the injured Alex Black and Iain Berthinussen faces his home town club.

Venue: Raeburn Place. Key clash: Opeta Palepoi v Dan Teague.

Gala: B Turner; S Law, C Auld, A Emond, C Robertson; L Millar, George Graham; L Bertram, R Anderson, E McQuillin, C Weir, O Palepoi, D Marshall, G Lowrie, E Dods.

Subs: J Gilding, C Keddie, Gary Graham, A McLean, C Borthwick.

Edinburgh Accies: J Sole; M Coupar, R Browne, I Berthinussen, J Knight; S Evans, M Campbell; D Morrison, M Liness, L Niven, G Campbell, D Teague (capt), C Reid, J Taggart, T Drennan.

Subs: S Jeffers, K Blyth, N Pike, A Lamb, R Bonner.

Hawick v Currie

Currie stick with virtually the same XV that defeated Dundee at Malleny Park, Adam Best taking over from Gary Temple in the only change. Neil Scobie, Malcolm Peacock and Tom Brown come onto the bench while John Houston starts for his home town club and comes up against Edinburgh teammate Dougie Fife in the centre. Hawick really must win in front of their home support today to keep alive their slim hopes of a place in the top eight.

Venue: Mansfield Park. Key clash: Bruce McNeil v Ross Weston.

Hawick: G Johnstone; C Russell, J Houston, L Armstrong, S Anderson; N Renwick, G Cottrell; R Sutherland, M Landels, S Linton, B Keown, K Davies, N Mactaggart, D Landels, B McNeil (capt).

Subs: H Scammell, N Little, G Hogg, others to be confirmed.

Currie: J Forbes; B Mansfield, D Fife, A MacMahon, D Smith; A Binikos, R Snedden; J Cox, F Scott, C Phillips, A Best, S Marcell, M Cairns, M Entwhistle, R Weston.

Subs: N Scobie, R Merrilees, G Temple, M Peacock, T Brown.

Stirling County v Melrose

County are looking to respond to a heavy defeat at Gala last weekend and make just one change, Craig Deacons returning to the second row. But Scotland winger Simon Webster starts for Melrose and Alan Dodds comes back on the other wing after good displays with the 2nds. Joe Helps replaces Cammie Murray at centre and with Graeme Dodds on holiday, Ross Ovens starts at lock, Gary Elder plays at six and Ross Miller reverts to No8.

Venue: Bridgehaugh. Key clash: Stevie Swindall v Ross Miller.

Stirling County: B Addison; G Lindsay, D Gilmour, B Archibald, R Aitken; S Edwards, S Kennedy; M McDonald, A Moffat, G Mountford, C Deacons, R McAlpine, T Clarke, R Boswell, S Swindall.

Subs: R Kennedy, C Hutton, J Mountford, S Robertson, D Maw.

Melrose: F Thomson; A Dodds, J Murray, J Helps, S Webster; A Skeen, B Colvine; C Keen, R Ferguson, N Beavon, R Ovens, P Eccles, G Elder, G Runciman, R Miller.

Subs: A Walker, R McLeod, S Johnston, S McCormick, C Murray.