Rugby: Watsonians ready to go whole Hogg in their fight for survival

Accies entertain Heriot's, knowing that a victory would leave them safe. But waiting to capitalise on any slip are Watsonians – provided they win at Melrose.

That's a tall order by any standards but 'Sonians coach Bruce Aitchison takes heart from being able to include two internationalists in his line-up with Marcus Di Rollo starting at centre and 48-cap Ally Hogg continuing his comeback from hip surgery.

Alongside Hogg in the back row will be Scotland under-20 captain Stuart McInally and Aitchison, who steps down after this fixture, says: "Ally played for us at Melrose Sevens and, since the SRU want him to be available for a couple of IRB sevens tournaments, we have been asked to give him an 80-minute run.

"Ally will bring much needed experience and also raise standards all-round."

Melrose coach Craig Chalmers includes Glasgow pro Peter Horne on the bench and says: "If we win this match, we will cement third in the league which will hopefully see us qualify for the British and Irish Cup next season."

Meanwhile, Heriot's coach Bob McKillop will motivate his side by not only trying to clinch fourth place and a potential B&I Cup spot but by recalling how Accies visited Goldenacre two seasons ago on the final day requiring safety points and rose to the occasion.

"There is nothing quite so powerful as the prospect of relegation for bringing the best out of a team and we have to be ready," says McKillop, who is hoping under-20 cap Mike Maltman will be fit for a back row place while Marc Teague should resume on the wing after missing Melrose Sevens due to injury.

Without a win from their last three games, Accies have a much more formidable look with under-20 cap Paul Loudon back from Durham University and recent Edinburgh signing Lewis Niven included at prop.

Among the regulars only scrum half Mike Campbell misses out.

Tomorrow's teams:

Edinburgh Accies: S Moffat, D Rattray, P Loudon, S Wilson, T Brown, G Douglas, C Martin, D Mcleod, D Cherry, L Niven, E Stuart, G Campbell, R Snape, T Drennan, D Teague. Subs: M Coupar, R Bonner, S Patience, M Strachan, D Denton.

Heriot's: (probable) C Goudie, M Nimmo, P Saunders, R Mill, M Teague, R Hutton or G Rutherford, G Wilson, A Dymock, N Meikle, W Blacklock, P O'Connor, CJ Osazuwa, M Maltman, J Syme, C Fusaro. Subs: tbc.

Melrose: F Thomson, C Anderson, J Murray, J King, B Allen, S Wight, S McCormick, R Higgins, L Gibson, N Bevan, G Dodds, S Johnston, J Dalziel, G Runciman, R Miller. Subs: A Gillie, N McTaggart, R Chrystie, P Horne.

Watsonians: A Rowe, M Learmonth, D Brown, M Di Rollo, R Minto, M Ker, J Blackwood, N Hart, G Wood, K Coertze, T Weizman, D Seed, S McInally, A Hogg, M Fedo. Subs (from) J Forbes, G Scott, G Walsh, J Pelter, N Dennis, N Montgomery.

West B Wright, A Park, R Dalgliesh, J Kerr, A McCall Hagan, C Davis, M McConnell, E Mclaren, G Bulloch, C Hastie, R McAlpine, G Perrett, M Jenkinson, G Fisken, D Young. Subs: R Kelso, D McKenna, J Walker, S Hunter, A Symington.

Currie: J Smith, W Moala, J Johnstone, A MacMahon, D Fife, M Scott, R Snedden, J Cox, A Walker, A Hamilton, R Wilson, A Adam, S Burton, J Thomson, R Weston. Subs: A Reekie, N scobie, M Entwhistle, J Taggart, C Kinloch.