Ayr v GHK - BT Cup quarter-final preview

Men's rugby returns to Millbrae for the first time in nearly two months when Ayr play GHK in the BT Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, kicking off at 3pm.

GHK have been the big success story of the national cup competition, the BT National 3 side's fantastic win against BT Premiership team Selkirk propelling them into the last eight.

Ayr head coach Calum Forrester is only too aware of the threat posed by the visitors from Old Anniesland.

'GHK will be full of confidence after their defeat of Selkirk in the last round and have nothing to lose after being in devastating league form again this season.'

Reflecting on Ayr's route to the quarter-finals, Forrester says: 'Last week's match at Stirling County was a very physical encounter but it was the test that our players needed at this point in the season.  To come away with the win was hugely important for our season and we look forward to playing in front of our home crowd again at Millbrae.'

There are some enforced changes to the squad this week, after Cameron Taylor, Scott Sutherland and Graham Fisken were injured last Saturday.

Haddon McPherson makes a return from his own injury troubles to replace Taylor on the wing, whilst Rob McAlpine starts in the second row for Sutherland and Andrew Dunlop fills the gap in the back row left by Fisken.

Young Craig Stevenson again starts at lock after an impressive debut last week, and his fellow up-and-comer Lee Scott is on an extended bench.

While there's no rest for Scotland Club XV player McAlpine, who put in two shifts back-to-back last weekend, his fellow club internationalists Pete McCallum and Ross Curle hopefully won't be called upon to take to the field as quickly as they were against County.


Ayr:
15. Grant Anderson (c); 14. Haddon McPherson, 13. Richard Dalgleish, 12. Danny McCluskey, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. David Armstrong; 1. Steven Longwell, 2. David Young, 3. Javan Sebastian; 4. Rob McAlpine, 5. Craig Stevenson; 6. Andrew Dunlop, 7. Will Bordill, 8. Blair Macpherson.

Replacements:
16. Stuart Fenwick, 17. George Hunter, 18. Lee Scott, 19. Pete McCallum, 20. Jack Preston, 21. Ross Curle, 22. Archie Russell.

GHK:
15. Tony Herron; 14. Rory Taylor, 13. Gordon Currie, 12. Cammy Brown, 11. Marc Taylor; 10. Danny Campbell, 9. Mike Aird; 1. Gregor Hollerin, 2. Gordi Reid, 3. Andy McCulloch; 4. Lewis Brock, 5. Nick Hurn; 6. Robin Coates, 7. Michael Borthwick, 8. Hugh Parker (c).

Replacements:
16. Ross Macfarlane, 17. Adam Johnstone, 18. Craig MacPhee, 19. Andy Drummond, 20. Rory Long, 21. Blair Forsyth, 22. Jamie Fleming.


Kick-off 3pm! If you can't be at Millbrae, follow the scores live on Twitter.  Please note altered admission prices for this game.

Ayr U18s play GHA U18s in the West Cup quarter-finals at Millbrae at 1pm on Saturday too, so get along to cheer on the next generation.

Ayr 2nd XV are away to Hamilton 2nd XV at Laigh Bent in their last game of the season, kicking off at 3pm.