Currie depleted for Worcester cup match

Currie have been hit by two late call-ups to the Edinburgh squad as they get set to host Worcester Warriors in the British & Irish Cup tonight.

Winger Tom Brown and hooker Alun Walker may be needed by the professional outfit for the clash at Newport-Gwent Dragons on Saturday, so are unable to take their places in Ally Donaldson's squad for the match at 7.30pm.

As well as Brown and Walker, who has just recovered from a long-term shoulder injury, another hooker in the shape of Finlay Gillies has been called-up by Glasgow Warriors for Friday's match with Cardiff Blues.

All of which means that Stu Simonsen starts in the No 2 jersey with another hooker who will sit on the bench yet to be confirmed. Brown's berth on the wing is taken by Alan Whittingham.

In Currie's previous home tie in the event this season they lost 25-23 to Newport and will be looking to post a positive result ahead of a run of crucial matches in a number of tournaments in the coming weeks.

Currie coach Donaldson said: "We will have to be at our very best to survive. It is, however, a real glamour tie and one we are all very much looking forward to."

Rob Higgitt, Oriol Ripol, Willie Walker and Joe Carlisle are all named for the visitors, who are coached by former England scrum-half Richard Hill and who top the English Championship by a mammoth 20 points.

The match is due to be at Malleny Park, but may be moved to Myreside if the former is still flooded following heavy rain in the capital.

Currie: J Smith; A Whittingham, H Abercrombie, A MacMahon, D Fife; M Scott, R Snedden; J Cox , S Simonsen, A Hamilton, R Wilson, A Adam, S Burton, R Weston, M Entwhistle. Subs: AN Other, R Merrilees, G Temple, A Best, D Pech, A Binikos, I Downie.

Worcester Warriors: W Walker; M Penn, R Higgitt, G King, O Ripol; J Carlisle, O Frost; M Mullan, E Shervington, O Tomaszczyk, N Dacres, W Bowley, J Freeman, A Balding, J Collins. Subs: W Radburn, C Black, M Hill, J Clutterbuck, R Wood, R Silver, J Whybrow.