Fit-again Heriot's ace Finlay Gillies puts problems into perspective

But, by his own admission, the neck and ankle injuries which have kept the Scotland under-20 hooker out didn't earn him any sympathy from his brother – himself no stranger to a knock or two.

Gillies said: "My younger brother, Campbell, is a National Hunt jockey and last October he was run down by a horse during a race at Aintree.

"Campbell broke two ribs, cracked several small bones around his vertebrae, punctured a lung and suffered bruising to his kidneys and liver."

Putting his own injuries in perspective, Gillies added: "Despite all that, he was not only back in the saddle three weeks later but rode the horse owned by our mum and grandfather, Lie Forrit, to a victory that keeps its hopes alive of a Cheltenham Festival appearance for the World Hurdle in March."

The rugby-playing Gillies took much longer to return to action and has had to be patient to start fulfilling the potential that many believe can lead him to the top and he admits it has been frustrating.

He said: "Last season, I started four out of five matches for Scotland under-20s and came off the bench in the other before going to the world championships in Japan and playing in every game.

"Unfortunately, in the last game against Fiji, I suffered a prolapsed disc.

"What made it worse was the fact I had only joined the National (rugby) Academy a month previously but, at least, I was given access to the very best treatment including in Manchester from physio Don Gatherer, who helped get British and Irish Lions prop Andrew Sheridan back on his feet.

"Even then I wasn't finished because, while on the way back from neck damage, I broke an ankle.

"Hopefully, now I am ready to make up for lost time with a good chance of coming off the bench for Heriot's at Dundee to start my comeback."

Nothing, it seems, can dampen the enthusiasm of a player who credits Dunbar Grammar School coaches Billy Low and Gerry Donellan with providing the spark when it was suggested he move from flanker to hooker aged 16.

Quickly, Finlay was involved in the Scottish age-group teams and, if competition is tough at representative level, he acknowledges that in his absence a plethora of contenders have been chasing the Heriot's No.2 jersey.

Stewart Mustard, Dylan Mason, Scott Burnett, Kevin Bryce and Neil Meikle can all be regarded as legitimate contenders but Gillies insists: "Competition is guaranteed to benefit us all and I'll have to take my chance as soon as I get back on the pitch.

"A twenty-minute stint might be enough to show I'm worth a starting place although, in the ,longer term, my ankle may need an operation over the summer. Whatever happens, I am grateful for assistance received from national academy physios Dan Moore and Gemma Scott. Whatever happens I know I am being managed superbly in coming back from injury."

Heriot's will have a score to settle having lost 17-24 at home to Dundee earlier this season but latterly fortunes have improved with their last two matches, against Watsonians and Boroughmuir, yielding wins with an average tally of 39.5 points.

Coach Bob McKillop said: "We had picked up a bit of momentum in December so the break has been frustrating, but we have been lucky to gain access to facilities at Trinity Academy and Telford College that have enabled us to work hard as a squad."

Dundee will be without talented back rower Danny Levison, who has moved to Australia, but coach Ian Rankin says his side are ready to curtail the Heriot's revival.

"Heriots seemed to have salvaged their season after a dodgy start and a massive injury list and seemed to have gained in confidence after their British and Irish Cup performances.

"It's been difficult training conditions for everybody and it will be interesting to see which teams come out of the blocks fastest over the next few weeks when even getting to training has been a massive challenge."