Premier Cup: Underdogs Biggar aiming to show their teeth in bid for quarter-final

Premier Two outfit Biggar head for Melrose this afternoon looking to cause a shock and qualify for the knock-out stages of the Premier Cup in the process.

The Hartreemill men have won both of their pool C matches with bonus points so far, 32-10 against Haddington and 26-21 away to Ardrossan Accies just last weekend.

It has left them joint top of the pool on ten points with Melrose, who have also defeated the same two opponents, and has set up an intriguing clash at the Greenyards kicking off at 1pm.

Melrose, as Premier One leaders, will be favourites to progress from the pool, but Biggar will be out to give it their best shot.

Seven days ago, Biggar became just the second team, after Melrose, to defeat Ardrossan Accies at the Memorial Field. In that one, Biggar's points came from tries by Michael McKeand, Andrew Muir, Salo Tutaia and Andrew Peacock, while Craig Parker kicked six points.

For Melrose - who won the cup in 2008 and have lost in the last two finals - Grant Runciman returns to the back-row and will be looking to prove a point having been dropped from the Scotland under-20 squad.

Club internationalists Fraser Thomson, John Dalziel and Scott Wight are also back and coach Craig Chalmers said: "This is a huge game for both ourselves and Biggar. It is like a mini cup final in many ways as the winner will go through to the last eight.

"We have been a bit inconsistent over the last couple of games with the level of our performance, but on a positive note we have still won both and scored ten tries.

"I am expecting a tough and physical encounter against Biggar."

Elsewhere in the Premier Cup today, five of the other pools will conclude in an event that has become rather fragmented.

In pool D Dundee HSFP are favourites to finish first, although could be leapfrogged by Gala if the Taysiders lose at Falkirk and the Borderers defeat Musselburgh.

Stuart Barlow, Struan Cessford and Stewart Coleman come in as Dundee HSFP head for Sunnyside.

In pool E, Heriot's will progress and the experienced Neil Meikle, normally a hooker, has been handed a back-row berth for their trip to Hillhead/Jordanhill.

In pool F, Jed-Forest host Glasgow Hawks to see who will finish top, with the Premier One side currently in pole position. Dumfries also host Edinburgh Accies.

Hawick travel to Morgan Academy looking to secure top spot in pool G, with captain Bruce McNeil back at No 8 after he became a father recently. Kelso and Selkirk meet in the other match.

West of Scotland are looking set to top pool I and they travel to Kirkcaldy today, with Whitecraigs looking to cause a shock by defeating Watsonians.

There are also matches in pools A, B and H today, but those pools will not be decided until later this month.

Once all nine pool winners are known, the two who have gone through with the lowest points totals will play-off for the remaining place in the quarter-finals.