Ayr v Currie preview

After last week's break, Ayr get back to BT Premiership business at Millbrae, where they will welcome Currie on Saturday.

Ayr are currently second in the league, after Heriot's toppled them when they beat Boroughmuir last Friday night.  Currie lie in seventh, but can by no means be underestimated.  They have some very dangerous backs who have caused Ayr no end of trouble over the past few seasons, and a solid set of forwards, led by number eight and captain Ross Weston.

'Matches against Currie have always been close affairs and we expect much the same this weekend,' says Ayr head coach Calum Forrester.  'The players are refreshed after a week off and looking forward to the match.'

In the squad, Blair Macpherson partners Robert McAlpine in the second row in place of the unavailable Scott Sutherland, with Graham Fisken coming into the back row.

George Hunter starts at loosehead after several impressive performances from the bench.

Robbie Fergusson returns at outside centre, with captain Ross Curle moving to the inside berth.

It's an earlier kick-off of 2pm, with the 2nd XV's match against Watsonians 2nd XV kicking off at 1pm.  We hope to see everyone in the clubhouse for the live screenings of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals between Wales and South Africa (4pm) and France and New Zealand (8pm).

Ayr:
15. Grant Anderson; 14. Haddon McPherson, 13. Robbie Fergusson, 12. Ross Curle (c), 11. Cameron Taylor; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. Alistair Price; 1. George Hunter, 2. James Malcolm, 3. Javan Sebastian; 4. Robert McAlpine, 5. Blair Macpherson; 6. Graham Fisken, 7. Will Bordill, 8. Pete McCallum.

Replacements:
16. Lewis Anderson, 17. Steven Longwell, 18. D'arcy Rae, 19. Richard Dalgleish, 20. Danny McCluskey.

Currie:
15. Blair Kinghorn; 14. Fidias Efthymiou, 13. Matt McPhillips, 12. Joe Reynolds, 11. Harvey Elms; 10. James Semple, 9. Charlie Shiel; 1. John Cox, 2. Matt Goodwin, 3. Alistair Hamilton; 4. Alexander Heather, 5. Stephen Ainslie; 6. Travis Brooke, 7. Thomas Gordon, 8. Ross Weston (c).

Replacements:
16. Paul Mundell, 17. Graeme Carson, 18. Luke Crosbie, 19. Richard Sneddon, 20. Robbie Nelson.