Rugby: Glasgow-bound Fusaro wants to depart in style

CHRIS FUSARO is aiming to reward Heriot's with a victory as he signs off his club career with tonight's Scottish Premiership Hydro clash against Ayr (kick-off 8pm) to step into the professional ranks.

The Scotland under-20 flanker has agreed to join Glasgow and credits the Goldenacre club – ironically tonight's clash has been switched, because of ground conditions, to Currie who will take the title if Heriot's win – for giving him a leg up.

"It's been a very enjoyable three years at Heriot's during which I have learned a lot, especially from coach Bob McKillop," says Fusaro.

"When I joined it was made clear that helping produce future professionals was how the club saw its role and I'm sure I won't be the last Heriot's player to go down that road.

"Michael Maltman and Stuart Hogg are others in the current team who I expect to be getting pro deals before long.

"The reason is partly down to the training regime which is very professional and thorough.

"So much so that when Heriot's visited Bristol in this season's British and Irish Cup we were equipped to push those English championship (second division) leaders all the way and could have won had we not shipped a couple of soft tries."

Ex-Howe of Fife ace Fusaro rates his B & I Cup experience highly and a win tonight could see Heriot's claim the fourth league spot likely to gain them entry in an expanded Scottish contingent next season.

But he warns that Ayr will be a tough nut to crack especially as they have to win and hope that Currie slip up away to Glasgow Hawks on Saturday to have a chance of retaining their crown.

"I've played against Ayr often enough to know that they have a massive pack so our aim will have to be to try to run them off their feet.

"Also, Ayr's stand-off, Frazier Climo, is somebody capable of exerting a lot of influence given half a chance."

Coach McKillop reciprocates Fusaro's remarks, saying: "Chris has always had the ideal attitude in his quest to become a professional. He is an example to other up-and-comings."

A late fitness test has prevented club internationalist centre Graham Thomson making a swansong before moving to a new job in Australia but prop forward Wullie Blacklock has been cleared to play following injury. At second row Pete Eccles replaces Phil O'Connor who has flown out to play in New Zealand.

Crucially Heriot's are without winger Marc Teague who suffered a reoccurence of recent shoulder damage in the club's last match and McKillop said: "When we scored in the closing moments to beat Glasgow Hawks recently that should have sparked celebrations.

"Instead everybody was flat because of the injury to Marc who had worked so hard to get back to fitness after damaging the same shoulder early on in the season."

McKillop remains upbeat. "Mark Lee will be available from army duties to figure among the subs and overall we are in good shape apart from the loss of Teague."

On the switch of venue McKillop says: "We were fortunate to have a choice but Currie were kind enough to offer us an extra pitch so our seconds could face Ayr seconds with a 7.15 kick off.

"There's a good grass covering at Malleny Park and the floodlights are good quality so it was the obvious facility when Goldenacre was ruled out."

Ayr coach Kenny Murray introduces Scotland under-19 second row Blair McPherson for Australia-bound Scott Sutherland with winger Steve Manning and scrum-half Jamie Hunter in for, respectively, Cammy Taylor and AJ McFarlane compared to the side which lost against Currie last Saturday.