After last week's highly anticipated tie with Glasgow Hawks was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Ayr will be champing at the bit to get out on to solid ground and play against Hawick at Mansfield Park.
Unfortunately, rain and snow are forecast for the Borders on Saturday, so Ayr head coach Peter Laverie might not get to see the kind of game he'd like.
"The contest between the packs will be crucial but I am really looking forward to seeing our back division up against theirs. Rory Hutton remains a class act at stand-off and no doubt Bruce McNeil will be making his talented presence felt around the park."
He continues: "There are any number of good players in this Hawick side who will be desperate for the points and give it their all as the pressure of league survival mounts, but I suspect Hawick will stay up."
As for Ayr, they're aiming to win every game remaining.
"A victory on Saturday guarantees British and Irish Cup participation next season and keeps us in with an arithmetical chance of the league," explains Laverie.
The challenge will be aided by the release of Glasgow Warriors' James Eddie, Dougie Hall and Jerry Yanuyanutawa, who have all turned out in the pink and black this season already. Scotland international Hall starts at hooker, whilst Eddie is part of a dynamic back row alongside Andrew Dunlop and Peter McCallum. Callum Templeton and Scott Sutherland are again the pillars of the second row. Yanuyanutawa is a welcome addition to an already strong bench.
The starting backs have a familiar look to them, with Grant Anderson captaining the side at full-back, the Gossman brothers on either wing, the solid Dean Kelbrick and January player of the month Robbie Fergusson in the centre, whilst at half-back the ever-dependable Finn Russell again partners Murray McConnell, a young man Laverie calls "impressive".
Team:
15. Grant Anderson (capt.), 14. Craig Gossman, 13. Robbie Fergusson, 12. Dean Kelbrick, 11. Kerr Gossman; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Murray McConnell; 1. George Hunter, 2. Dougie Hall, 3. Nick Cox; 4. Callum Templeton, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. James Eddie, 7. Andrew Dunlop, 8. Peter McCallum.
Replacements:
16. Fergus Scott, 17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18. Graham Fisken, 19. Peter Jericevich, 20. Ross Curle.
Kick-off 3pm.
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