Injured Gray poses a problem for Scotland’s Autumn Test programme

While prop Dickinson is out for months with shoulder damage Gray is facing a race against time to be be fit for Scotland’s November 11 clash with New Zealand after damaging ankle ligaments.

Meanwhile, Ewan Miller, a young winger from Dumfries, has much to live up to when National League leaders Watsonians entertain seventh place Hamilton at Myreside  tomorrow.

Miller debuted from off the bench at Kelso last week as a second half substitute and claimed a “hat-trick” of tries. He makes his first start in the absence of the unavailable  Scott McKean while Andrew Chalmers is on the bench for the first time since helping  ‘Sonians claim the Scottish cricket title this summer.

In the same league tomorrow Stewart’s Melville are at home to Selkirk while Championship B unbeaten leaders Musselburgh face an intriguing tie at home to Haddington who have won their last two fixtures. Murrayfield Wanderers await Lasswade.

Elsewhere, former interim Edinburgh Rugby coach Nick Scrivener has put his head above the  parapet going into tomorrow’s clash between Australia, whom he now helps coach, and New Zealand in Brisbane. Scrivener says the All Blacks are vulnerable because  they have become “comfortable with how they play”  adding: “We definitely  have identified areas where  we think we can go and play with pressure and those points are going to be very important.”