Scottish flavour to Ayr's crunch match

Ayr will come up against a side with a distinctly Scottish flavour this afternoon at Millbrae as they aim to reach the British & Irish Cup quarter-finals.

Standing between the Premier Cup holders and a last-eight place are English Championship side Doncaster Knights, who have named five Scottish players in their squad and whose director of rugby is ex-Edinburgh coach, Lynn Howells.

The Yorkshire outfit too are aiming for a place in the knock-out stages, with both sides tied on ten points behind leaders Pontypridd in pool D.

The five Scots in the Knights side are former Currie wing Dougie Flockhart, ex-Ayr prop Stuart Corsar, Scotland A cap Steve Lawrie, Neil Cochrane and Steve McColl. For the home side, their soon-to-be departing captain Damien Kelly returns to the starting line-up alongside Scott Sutherland in the second-row, but full-back Grant Anderson misses out through injury. Ayr coach Kenny Murray said: "This is a huge game for both Ayr and Scottish rugby.

"Twelve months ago no one would have entertained the prospect of a Scottish team reaching the quarter-finals of the British & Irish Cup.

"We have a very good home record and will give it our all to make life difficult for Doncaster and hopefully make history."

Elsewhere today in British & Irish Cup action, Melrose host Bristol and Currie travel to Plymouth.

Allan Dodds has been given a starting place for Melrose on the wing, while youngster Craig Jackson will start at stand-off in place of skipper Scott Wight if he is released from the under-20 squad after last night's match against Ireland in Inverness. Currie are without winger Dougie Fife who has a groin injury and Finlay Gillies was on Glasgow Warriors' duty last night, but back-row Mark Cairns returns to the starting line-up for the trip south.