Currie will be hot to handle, warns Dundee coach Rankin

In November they defeated Melrose and then Stirling County in league matches before a tight loss to Carmarthen in the British & Irish Cup was followed up by a first win in the event at home to the same opponents.

Wet weather saw their league match with Heriot’s postponed pre-Christmas and now a fortnight later they are eager to get back to action with them being three points ahead of bottom side Boroughmuir.

Dundee HSFP head coach Ian Rankin said: “Although a young Currie squad were beaten by Heriot’s at home in the cup last week, I fully expect to see a much stronger and experienced squad lining up in this fixture.

“With a challenging run of Currie, Cornish Pirates and Swansea over the next three weeks the focus is completely on the need to secure Premiership points at Malleny in a match  critical to both clubs aspirations.”

For the trip to the Capital Dundee HSFP are without important forwards Neil Dymock and Chris Cumming, who are at the wedding of former club player and coach Shannon Wilson in New Zealand.

Currie, in third place, have a number of key players back for this one.

At Meggetland, Boroughmuir have reunited a trusty old half- back partnership as they look to derail Gala’s title bid and, at the same time, boost their own survival chances.

Former pros Calum Cusiter and Ally Warnock will link up at nine and ten to take on Gala’s slightly more youthful partnership of George Graham and Lee Millar in a fascinating clash.

Warnock has been in the starting XV at ‘Muir for most of this season, but Cusiter has had to bide his time behind Andy Watt and Sam Johnson to get a starting jersey following a period away from the game.

They are also boosted for this one by the release of Ben Cairns and Harry Leonard from Edinburgh and they will start at wing and full-back respectively while hooker Mike Brown is back from a break in his native Australia and will start.

Gala go into this one five points behind leaders Ayr, but with a game in hand.

They will want to start 2013 well, not only to keep up the pressure on the Millbrae men, but also to get them ready for their crucial upcoming British & Irish Cup matches with Llanelli and London Scottish.

Third bottom Stirling County are on the road to Aberdeen Grammar with both sides knowing victory would be a big boost to securing top-flight rugby next term.

County head coach Graeme Young admitted he had some tough calls to make this week, the availability of the likes of Mark Bennett and Byron McGuigan from Glasgow Warriors meaning others miss out.

He said: “We have had a pleasing group of performances in the last three outings and will be facing a strong Aberdeen squad bolstered by the return of several key players.”

Elsewhere today, leaders Ayr host Melrose and Heriot’s make the short trip to Edinburgh  Accies with both sides still harbouring top-four hopes.

Fifteen months ago, when Melrose last travelled to Millbrae, they won 34-23 on their way to the title, but they go into this one in a patchy run of form and with a few players missing.

When Accies defeated Heriot’s at Goldenacre earlier in the season they came back from 26-6 down to secure their first win of the campaign in dramatic circumstances.