Highland prepare for visit of league leaders

HIGHLAND have had a big morale boost after the win over St Andrews University and although there might be some squad changes due to it being another Six Nations weekend the Greens are still expected to put out a strong side against Aberdeenshire at Canal Park tomorrow.

The visitors are currently the runaway leaders of Caledonia Regional League Division One and they require just two points to guarantee the league title.

With that in mind, it is anticipated Aberdeenshire will make the journey to Inverness with a strong squad of their own, meaning a very stern test for Highland, who themselves are in search of points in order to escape the drop zone.

However, if the league’s bottom club can maintain their undefeated home record, it would be the biggest result of the season and give them genuine hope of avoiding relegation, while dragging others above them into the mire.

Aberdeenshire have, in the past, relied on a strong set of forwards to lead their attack, so Highland will look to front row regulars Kevin Brown and Jamie Strachan to help thwart them in this area.

If the backs can be fleshed out with centres David Ramsay and Epi Vukicea, while utilising the speed out wide of Craig Findlater, then Highland will have a potent threat to give Aberdeenshire a hard time.

Richard Sim is also likely to come in to the starting line-up this week at either wing or full-back.

The match has a very early kick-off of noon due to the Scotland versus Wales Six Nations encounter going ahead at Murrayfield later in the afternoon.

Highland’s under-18s have a weekend off, but in order to maintain their match fitness they were scheduled to play a training match against Fortrose Academy last night.

The only junior side in weekend action for Highland are the under-16s who travel to take on Stirling County on Sunday in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, the club’s mini and micro sections have their usual Sunday training sessions at Canal Park, starting at 11am.

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