After defending the Bill McLaren Shield for a second time at home last Saturday, league-leaders Gala travel down the road to The Greenyards where they’ll play Melrose in a border derby.

Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Heriot’s welcome Ayr to Goldenacre. Currently, only two points separate the two sides in third and second place respectively.

Ayr head coach, Calum Forrester, said: “Our defence was vastly improved last Saturday and we will need to raise it again tomorrow as we travel to Heriot’s, who are one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

They showed from their result last week that they will keep fighting to the end so we will need to be more clinical in attack and take advantage of the opportunities that will come our way.”

Mike Vernal in CurrieThe remainder of tomorrow’s fixtures are played in the capital.

Edinburgh Accies will continue their search for a first win against Hawick at their Raeburn Place home, while Currie and Stirling County meet at Malleny Park.

Finally, Boroughmuir welcome Glasgow Hawks to Meggetland to complete the club card.

Stirling County head coach, Graeme Young, said: “It was pleasing to win away from home at Mansfield Park last Saturday. This week’s fixture provides an equally difficult challenge for the squad, once again on the road at Malleny Park.

“Recent games against Currie have been free-flowing and exciting, but we need to keep improving if we are to come away with a win tomorrow.”

Released from Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors this weekend are Tom Ryder (Currie), Rory Hughes, Ryan Wilson (both Stirling County), Tom Brown (Boroughmuir) Grayson Hart (Gala), Ben Toolis (Heriot’s), Ryan Grant, Murray McConnell, Jon Welsh and Will Bordill (all Ayr)

BT Premiership - round eight
Edinburgh Accies v Hawick, Raeburn Place, 3pm

Edinburgh Accies team: Ruairidh Young; Sam Pecqueur, Ewan Campbell, Jack Marples, Matt Coupar; Alex Glashan, Ryan Godsmark; Liam Launders, Michael Liness, Lewis Niven, Greg Campbell CAPTAIN, Ronan Seydak, Jamie Winks, Jamie Sole and Robin Snape.
Replacements: David Bates, Duncan Morrison, Edward Stuart, Iain Berthinussen and James Munro.

Hawick team: Lee Armstrong; Neil McColm, Nikki Walker, Rory Hutton, Scott McLeod; Ali Weir, Greg Cottrell; Nick McLennan, Ross Graham, William Blacklock, Mike McKee, Finlay Simpson, Nick McTaggart, Keith Davies and Bruce McNeil.
Replacements: Lindsay Gibson, Shawn Muir, Michael Robertson, Ross Gibson and Matty Douglas.

Currie v Stirling County, Malleny Park, 3pm

Currie team: Matt McPhilips; Malcolm Peacock, Fidias Efthymiou, Joe Reynolds, Chris Logan; James Semple, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Matt Goodwin, Alistair Hamilton, Jamie Gray, Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), Travis Brooke, Mike Vernal and Ross Weston CAPTAIN.
Replacements: Graeme Carson, Mike Erskine, Romain Denonain, Marko Mladenovic and Robbie Nelson.

Stirling County team: Joff Hope; Matt Lamb, Danny Gilmour, Jack Urquhart, Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors); Fraser Lyle, Alex Black; Jamie Bhatti, Reyner Kennedy, Colin Hutton, Matteo Minari, Ruaridh Leishman, Struan Robertson, Shaun MacDonald and Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Cameron Fenton, Garry Mountford, Lewis Wynne, Matt Smith and Ali Price.

Boroughmuir v Glasgow Hawks, Meggetland, 3pm

Boroughmuir team: Tom Brown (Edinburgh Rugby); Ed Farquharson, Chris Hardie, Mark Hare, Frank Yawayawa; Greg Cannie, Johnny Adams; Robbie Wilson, Sam Bingham, Simon Berghan, Trent Sutton, Adam Best, Craig Keddie, Andrew Rose and Iain Moody CAPTAIN.
Replacements: Jonny Latta, James Miller, Neil Rodger, Charlie Purdon and Chris Laidlaw.

Glasgow Hawks team: James Gormley; Tom Steven, Brendan McGroarty, David Milne, Paul Ramsay; George Horne, Paddy Boyer; Gary Strain, Grant Stewart, Zander Fagerson, Andy Davidson, Jonny Agnew, Tommy Spinks, Finlay Gillies CAPTAIN and Steven Leckie.
Replacements: Steven Findlay, Brendan Cullinane, Andy Kirkland, Jack Steele and Haddon McPherson.

Melrose v Gala, The Greenyards, 3pm

Melrose team: Fraser Thomson CAPTAIN; Tito Mua, Blair Hutchison, Joe Helps, George Taylor; Austin Lockington, Murdo McAndrew; Nick Beavon, Todd Pearce, Ewan McQuillin, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine-Hess, Peter Eccles and Graeme Dodds.
Replacements: Richard Ferguson, Nicky Little, Ross Miller, Bruce Colvine and Callum Anderson.

Gala team: Ruairi Howarth; Brett Thompson, Keith Young, Alan Emond, Grant Sommerville; Rex Jeffrey, George Graham CAPTAIN; Rory Sutherland, Callum MacIntosh, Gary Robertson, Chris Weir, Opeta Palepoi, Gary Graham, Stevie Cairns and Ewan Dods.
Replacements: Russell Anderson, Ewan Johnstone, Tom Weir, Grayson Hart (Edinburgh Rugby) and Ewan Scott.

Heriot's v Ayr, Goldenacre, 3pm

Heriot’s team: Glenn Bryce; Harry Boisseau, Liam Steele, Rory Carmichael, Charlie Simpson; Gregor McNeish, Graham Wilson; Nathan Borel, David McGregor, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), Jono Armstrong, Jack Turley CAPTAIN and Jason Hill.
Replacements: Blair Couper, Gavin Cameron, Joseva Nayacavou, Jack McLean and Stuart Edwards.

Ayr team: Robbie Fergusson, Richard Dalgleish, Ross Curle, Dean Kelbrick CAPTAIN, Kerr Gossman; Danny McCluskey, Murray McConnell (Glasgow Warriors); Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), James Malcolm, Stuart Fenwick, Callum Templeton, Scott Sutherland, Graham Fisken, Ben Johnston and Blair McPherson.
Replacements: George Hunter, Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), Will Bordill, David Armstrong and Craig Gossman.