Dundee out to halt Hawks on return to league action

The great momentum of the early charge was lost by a combination of the mid-season split and the winter weather, and one feels it was sufficient to force the clubs to think again about the split idea. But now into Premier A, B and C matches, the focus is again on who will challenge for the Premier One, Two and Three trophies, and who will edge closer to relegation.

Dundee's director of rugby Ian Rankin is delighted to be back in league action with his side having played only one Premier A match, like Boroughmuir, while the rest of the top eight are on two, and have 14 points to make up on leaders Melrose. The visitors to Mayfield this afternoon - Dundee's first home game since 23 October - are Glasgow Hawks and, at just two points behind Melrose, they are very much in the hunt.

Rankin said: "Although we're pleased with our result last week against Gala in the Cup, our performance will need to be far less patchy and show more intensity to topple a Hawks side that are second top of the league. Both teams know their way to the line and, with defences probably a little leaky after a long lay-off, this has the makings of a high-scoring game."

Peter Wright, the Hawks' director of rugby, agreed. "I think this game could be a cracker with both teams looking to play a pretty open game, but this was one of our hardest games in the first half of the season and we see no reason for it being any different second time round."

Melrose coach Craig Chalmers is hoping his side can take confidence from their win away to Nottingham in the British and Irish Cup and stay on top after what promises to be another fiery Border derby with Hawick.

He said: "We are looking to build on a great result at Nottingham where the boys had to dig deep once again. Hawick are always a really hard team to play against and they will be looking to put a dent in our title aspirations this weekend.

"All we will be concentrating on is our own performance and, if it reaches the desired level, we will have a great chance of winning the game. Border derbies are always tough, so four points will not come easy. I hope a big crowd turns out for what should be a cracking game."

Hawick are now without Australia-bound trio Neil Renwick, Keith Davies and Craig Charters, and others through injury and U20 commitments, but Hawick relish the underdog tag, and nothing can be taken for granted in this fixture.Ayr welcome Boroughmuir to Millbrae looking to keep up the pressure on Melrose and Hawks, while reigning champions Currie host Heriot's knowing they need a victory to keep themselves in with a realistic chance of a back-to-back achievement.

In Premier B, there is a real battle of the bottom four in Division One today.

Selkirk and West of Scotland are struggling to retain their places in the top flight and, if the Souters fail to take something from their trip to Watsonians and West stutter at home to Stirling County, they could almost say goodbye to life in Division One.

Consequently, wins for 'Sonians and County would go a long way to securing their top-flight status while Gala host Edinburgh Accies in a game that will push one of that pair firmly into the reckoning for promotion. Aberdeen Grammar and Peebles meet in the north-east in the other Premier B game with both still in the promotion hunt.

All but Kirkcaldy will be at the halfway stage in Premier C by this evening. Jed-Forest, Hillhead/Jordanhill, Biggar and Falkirk currently hold the top four slots but Kelso's match against Stew/Mel at Poynder Park is a big one, particularly for the Borderers and their desire to move away from relegation.