Sutherland returns to add weight to Ayr's cup quest

Scotland Club International cap Scott Sutherland returns to the Ayr squad to give them a lift ahead of their crucial British & Irish Cup tie against Llandovery today.

Second-row Sutherland was superb for the Millbrae men in both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons, helping them win the league and then the cup, before heading off to play rugby and travel in Australia.

Now back in the fold, he starts on the bench and will be introduced at some point as Ayr look to record their second win of the campaign in pool D.

If they do just that, then they will welcome Doncaster Knights in a fortnight's time knowing that they could be in with a shout of a quarter-final place.

In the starting line-up for the hosts, Gordon Reid, Damien Kelly, Andy Dunlop, Rob Colhoun and Ross Curle all take up their usual places after Club International duties last weekend, while teenager Robbie Fergusson holds on to the No 10 jersey.

Ayr head coach Kenny Murray said: "This is a huge match for the club as a win against Llandovery sets us up with a wonderful opportunity to qualify for the quarter-finals, so everything is to play for. We'll need to be at our very best to overcome a strong Llandovery pack and we'll be focusing on cutting down their time on the ball with our defensive organisation."

The Welsh outfit travelled north without Wales Under-20 duo Sam Parry and Adam Warren, who were in action last night against their Scotland counterparts.

Ayr: (to play Llandovery today, noon, at Millbrae): G Anderson; S Manning, R Curle, M Stewart, C Taylor; R Fergusson, AJ MacFarlane; G Reid, S Fenwick, A Kelly, D Kelly, D Stewart, A Dunlop, G Tippett, R Colhoun. Subs: G Sykes, S Adair, S Nimmo, S Sutherland, P Burke, D Steele, G Siwo.