TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP: LEAGUE LEADERS SET FOR TROON TUSSLE

Both sides have gleaned the maximum 15 league points from their opening three fixtures, scoring an impressive 260 points in the process and conceding only 119 along the way.

The hosts are enjoying a return to Scotland’s top flight having experienced a season at Premiership level during the 2017/18 campaign, when they ended up relegated on the final despite doing their job with a win over Stirling County to keep hopes alive before other results ultimately conspired against the club.

Currie Chieftains are current holders of the Bill McLaren Shield and after four successful defences – which affords them an engraving on the trophy – they put it on the line in all matches, home or away, until such time as a side defeats them.

Craig Redpath, Head Coach of the home side, said: “After a good win away against GHA we face a very tough fixture against Currie at home. They had a great win last week against Hawick and look strong in all departments. This is a great opportunity for our squad to see where we are compared to a team that have been in the top four of the Premiership for a number of years and will be hoping to win the title this year. They have very experienced coaching team which will make the task of a home win even greater. Hopefully the home crowd will help push us on to a strong performance.”

His counterpart, Mark Cairns, says his side are steeling themselves for a tough outing: “We set the minimum expected standard last week against Hawick and we will look to improve again this week. We are under no illusions of how hard a task it is to go to Marr – who have not lost at home since January 2018 – and come away with points. Craig has his team playing with real confidence and it’s set up to be a cracker.”

The stage is set for what is sure to be one of the most keenly contested matches in this season’s Tennent’s Premiership, with several other sides lying in wait for any slip-ups from the incumbent leaders.

Marr v Currie Chieftains, Fullarton Park, 3pm

Marr:Gregor Ness; Scott Bickerstaff, Gregor Paxton, Conor Bickerstaff ©, Richard Dalgleish; Colin Sturgeon, Greg Montgomery; Brandon Sweet, Ollie Rossi, Calvin Henderson; Ewan Hamilton-Bulger, Fraser Grant; Mackenzie Pearce, Robert Brown, Benedict Grant.

Replacements: Jamie Drummond, Will Farquhar, Cody Cunningham, Jack Preston, Jack Scott.

Currie Chieftains: Charlie Brett; Cameron Meager, Steven Hamilton, Adam Hall, Archie MacLean; Gregor Hunter, Gregor Christie; Graeme Carson, Fergus Scott ©, Matias Sonzogni Argiro; Matt Poole, Mike Vernal; Hamish Ferguson, Josh O’Brien, Wallace Nelson.

Replacements: Ben Slessor, Cairn Ramsay, Matt O’Neill, Cammy Scott, Tom Clark.

Elsewhere in the Tennent’s Premiership, Hawick welcome borders rivals Selkirk to Mansfield Park; GHA will be seeking a first win of the season at home to Edinburgh Accies; Musselburgh travel to Glasgow Hawks in search of points; and Rubislaw plays host to Aberdeen Grammar match against Jed-Forest, with all games kicking off at 3pm.