What do Highland need to do to get out of relegation zone?
HIGHLAND are looking for maximum points once again for a victory that could get out them of the relegation zone in National One.
The Inverness club are set to welcome Gala to Canal Park on Saturday afternoon where a victory would give them a good chance of moving out of the bottom three.
Due to league reconstruction, the bottom three will be relegated from the 10-team division and at the halfway point, Highland find themselves in eighth place.
In their last match two weeks ago, Highland edged Boroughmuir 22-19 and scored four tries to give them all five points in a boost in their fight against the drop.
Head coach Dave Carson says the importance of maximum points two weeks ago could not be understated. He says the target on Saturday will be picking up victory plus four tries for the extra bonus point.
He said: “It is vital that we go for all five points available this weekend.
“Picking up all five points against Boroughmuir was massive in our last game.
“It wasn’t pretty at times, but it was a good performance to get the five points.
“We need to keep climbing the right way and we need to get five points at home.”
Seumas Ross is set to return to the back line from injury to the squad for Saturday’s match against Gala. Tom Smith, who has returned from Australia, marked his returned for Highland in their last match in the second row against Boroughmuir and is expected to feature again on Saturday.
Ollie Smith will miss Saturday’s clash against Gala after suffering a damaged ankle in the win against Boroughmuir. Kevin Brown is expected to replace him in the starting line-up this weekend.
The season is at the halfway point and apart from GHA, Stirling County and Glasgow Academicals in the top three, Carson believes the remaining teams are all of a similar standard. He remains confident Highland can avoid relegation after a tough start to the campaign.
He said: “The top three are away, but anyone from fourth to 10th is potentially in that zone. This season will go down to the last game to see who will go down.
“There have been a couple of stunning results this season and there will be factors that will come into it.
“But any three of seven teams could go down and we need to look after ourselves in the home games.
“We need to put the pressure on and pick up five points in the home games.
“There are a lot of games to play, but we have turned the corner.”
