Currie big hitter Cox: It's time for the professionals

Currie will draw on the experience of a string of ex-professionals when looking to ignite their British and Irish Rugby Cup bid against Newport in the Capital tonight.

For a tie that will proceed under the Malleny Park or Myreside floodlights depending on ground conditions, Currie include in their squad two Edinburgh full-timers who have already represented them in domestic competition - Andy and Steve Turnbull (no relation). Additionally, Alex Dunbar is attached to Glasgow; Tom Brown is an Edinburgh elite development prospect as is James Johnstone at Glasgow but both are well known to Currie fans with Finlay Gillies registered to Glasgow in the European Cup.

Overseas aid comes from regulars Hayden Abercrombie, Ryan Wilson and Johnny Smith who have all played provincial rugby in New Zealand while Andy Binikos has represented Natal Sharks.

So, it is little wonder prop forward John Cox, himself an ex-pro with French side Perigeux and English Championship team Rotherham, insists: "The fear factor has been overcome and we'll be looking to give a really good account of ourselves."

Currie lost their opening pool game at Cornish Pirates 34-51 but Cox says, with considerable justification, there were mitigating circumstances.

"A bit like when we tackled the touring Japanese side shortly after we won the Premiership last season we took the field in a little bit of trepidation through not knowing what to expect on the day.

"As we began to settle at Pirates we realised we could compete and the aim this time will be to do that from the start."

Being on home ground will certainly help compared to events surrounding the Pirates fixture.

"When it was obvious the weather would prevent any rugby in Scotland we switched to Penzance at little more than a day's notice.

"It was a major travel exercise reflecting well on everybody who put things in place at short notice but did leave us a bit bewildered by the speed of it all," said Cox.

This time the boot is on the other foot with Newport skipper Alex Jones unlikely to travel due to teaching commitments although the visitors do sit midway in the Welsh club Premiership after wins over Bedwas and Glamorgan Wanderers already this year and, depending on Dragons' European Cup commitments, they could yet field a couple of internationalists.

According to Cox a host side who have club captain Andy Adam starting for the first time since breaking an arm last September, will be ready.

"Training has been difficult because of bad weather but there is a spine of experience running through the ranks that we aim to utilise.

"The lads who have come in are well known to all the Currie players and have bought into our dressing-room camaraderie and we really do feel the mindset will be different compared to the match against Pirates where we weren't really expecting to win.

"We gave Pirates - and also Japan last May - too much respect and while recognising the abilities of Newport there should be more of an edge to us.

"One thing we are doing differently is putting more emphasis on our own play rather than looking at videos of the opposition."

That outlook is shared by Newport coach Sven Cronk whose side have lost their two previous B&I Cup matches, against Leinster A and Worcester.

Cronk says: "We don't know much about Currie but that could be a good thing.

"At this level you can't do too much analysis anyway and it just means that you have to concentrate on your own game. That is quite refreshing to be honest."

Meanwhile, Currie coach Ally Donaldson says: "We have Andy MacMahon out with a shoulder injury and Douglas Fife has a groin strain although Finlay Gillies retuns to the bench after a knock.

"Newport will pose a formidable challenge and have played two matches this year already. However, we are very up for the challenge and hopefully will get a big support as there has been no club rugby in Edinburgh since the middle of November."

Currie: Tom Brown, Alex Dunbar, Tom Brown, James Johnstone, Hayden Abercrombie, Andy Turnbull, Matt Scott, Richard Snedden, John Cox, Stu Simonsen, Alastair Hamilton, Ryan Wilson, Andy Adam, Mark Cairns (captain), Ross Weston, Michael Entwhistle. Subs: Finlay Gillies, Ross Merrilees, Steven Turnbull, Gary Temple, Andrew Binikos, Johnny Smith, Alan Whittingham.