Tomorrow (Saturday 1 Noevember) marks the start of return ties in the BT Premiership, with Edinburgh side Heriot’s topping the table at the half-way mark.

Second place Ayr travel to Netherdale to play Gala who currently sit one spot, and four points, behind them in the table.

Ayr head coach, Calum Forrester, said: “We are pleased to name a relatively unchanged starting squad from last week.

“We were delighted with the way that we started against Melrose last week, which was exactly the response that we were looking for following a disappointing display the game before.

“This week we will be hoping to build on that display when we head down to Netherdale against a Gala side who will undoubtedly seek to bounce back from a couple of defeats.”

Table-toppers, Heriot’s, travel to Old Anniesland to take on Glasgow Hawks who currently sit in the lower reaches of the division. The west-coast side were victorious over their Edinburgh counterparts in the first game of the season, one of only two defeats for Heriot’s this season.

Heriot’s head coach, Phil Smith, said: “With Glasgow Hawks beating us in our first game this season we are under no illusions about the task in hand.

“In round one they gave us a tough time in the set piece and we will be looking to rectify that part of our game this time around.

“However we are going well at the moment and know that a replication of the performances in our last two games will make us tough to beat.”

Edinburgh Accies, currently at the base of the table, will host defending champions Melrose, as Stirling County welcome Boroughmuir to Bridgehaugh.

Hawick will look to avenge their narrow 16-18 defeat to Currie in the first round of fixtures as Currie travel to Mansfield Park.

Lewis Young, Gregor Young (both Gala), Jon Welsh, Murray McConnell (both Ayr), James Fleming (Heriot’s), James Johnstone, Scott Wight (both Melrose) and Andrew Turnbull (Boroughmuir)have all been released from the professional ranks to play in the BT Premiership this week.

Gala v Ayr, Netherdale, 3pm

Gala squad: Craig Dods; Lewis Young, Gregor Young, Alan Emond. Graeme Spiers; Ruairi Howarth, George Graham (captain); Luke Pettie, Russell Anderson, Gary Robertson, Chris Weir, Opeta Palepoi, Gary Graham, Stevie Cairns and Euan Dods.

Replacements: Callum MacIntosh, Josh Irvine, TBC, TBC and Shaun Law.

Ayr squad: Craig Gossman; Richard Dalgliesh, Ross Curle, Dean Kelbrick (captain), Robbie Fergusson; Danny McCluskey, David Armstrong; George Hunter, Stuart Fenwick, Jon Welsh, Robert McAlpine, Scott Sutherland, Callum Templeton, Andrew Dunlop and Blair McPherson.

Replacements: James Malcolm, Fraser Watt, Will Bordill, Murray McConnell and Kerr Gossman.

Referee: Lloyd Linton

Glasgow Hawks v Heriot’s, Old Anniesland, 3pm

Glasgow Hawks squad: Robbie Houliston; Tom Steven, Brendan McGroarty, Davie Milne, Paul Ramsay; George Horne, Paddy Boyer; Steven Findlay, Jack McFarlane, Gary Strain, SamThompson, Jonny Agnew, Tommy Spinks, Finlay Gillies (captain) and Steven Leckie.

Replacements: Callum Kerr, Brendan Cullinane, Andy Davidson, Andy Kirkland and Andy Fleming.

Heriot’s squad: Glenn Bryce; Charlie Simpson, Liam Steele, Max Learmonth, Harry Boisseau; Stuart Edwards, Graham Wilson (captain); Gavin Cameron, Davy McGregor, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Jamie Syme, Jose Nayacavou, Jack McLean and Jason Hill.

Replacements: George Turner, Nathan Borel, JackTurley, Struan Dewar and James Fleming.

Referee: Graeme Wells

Edinburgh Accies v Melrose, Raeburn Place, 2pm

Edinburgh Accies squad: Ruaridh Young; Josh Pecquer, Nyle Godsmark, Robert Wilson, Sam Pecquer; Iain Chisholm, Alex Glashan; Duncan Morrison, Lewis Niven, Greg Campbell, Ed Stuart, Jamie McCarthy, Jamie Sole and Tom Stuart.

Replacements: Liam Launders, David Bates, Alex Toolis, Ryan Godsmark and Euan Campbell.

Melrose squad: Fraser Thomson (captain); Damien Hoyland, James Johnstone, Scott Wight, Tito Mua; Austin Lockington, Murdo McAndrew; Nick Beavon, Richard Ferguson, Euan McQuillin, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine-Hess, Peter Eccles and Graeme Dodds.

Replacements: Nicky Little, Ruiri Knott, Andrew Nagle, Bruce Colvine and Joe Helps.

Referee: James McPhail

Stirling County v Boroughmuir, Bridgehaugh, 3pm

Stirling County squad: TBC

Replacements: TBC

Boroughmuir squad: Ed Farquharson; Frank Yawayawa, Jordan Edmunds, Chris Hardie, Apenai Kororua; Chris Laidlaw, Johnny Adams; Robbie Wilson, Cal Davies, Jonny Latta, Adam Best, Trent Sutton, Craig Keddie, Andrew Rose and Iain Moody.

Replacements: Darren Miller, Angus Wallace, Neil Rodger, Sam Johnson and Andrew Turnbull.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy

Hawick v Currie, Mansfield Park, 3pm

Hawick squad: Lee Armstrong; Neil McColm, Nikki Walker, Rory Hutton, Scott Macleod; Ali Weir, Greg Cottrell; Neil McLennan, Lindsay Gibson, William Blacklock, Bruce McNeil, Nick McTaggart, Keith Davies and Michael Robertson.

Replacements: Matt Landels, Shaun Muir, Ross Gibson, Sean Goodfellow and John Coutts.

Currie squad: Matt McPhillips; William Martin, Robbie Nelson, Joe Reynolds, Chris Logan; James Semple, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Matt Goodwin, Graeme Carson, Romain Denonain, Travis Brooke, Paul Mundell, Malcolm Peacock and Ross Weston (captain).

Replacements: Mike Erskine, Reece Patterson, Charlie Maclean, Luke Crosbie and Duncan Swanson.

Referee: Sam Grove-White