GLASGOW High/Kelvinside have been an enigma this season, blowing hot

and cold in the McEwan's national league. Their results away from home

have not matched those at Old Anniesland.

They have had substantial wins against Heriot's and Dundee as well as

upsetting Jed-Forest's championship chase, all three at home, whereas

they have lost the four games they have played furth of Anniesland.

Today, completing an imbalanced autumn league programme, they are off

on their travels again, visiting Malleny Park, seeking their first win

over Currie in four championship matches between the clubs as well as

endeavouring to break their season's pattern.

Not only is history against GHK, but they have lost two of their

regular forwards, Andy Ness, the Scotland under-21 captain, and Graham

McKee. Donald Macleod, the Scottish Rugby Union's medical adviser, has

recommended Ness to rest from rugby for three weeks to allow a back

injury to clear, and McKee has a leg cut that has turned septic.

GHK have rejigged their back row in the young wing forward's absence,

with the Wallace brothers on the flanks and Dominic Mellor returning at

No.8. David Borland takes over from McKee at tight head.

Currie have defined their pack by keeping to the back five who

finished in the win over Heriot's. Ian Russell, replacement for Alan

Elms in the Goldenacre match, therefore stays on at wing forward. Currie

and GHK are in a mid-table group along with Hawick, Kelso, and

Watsonians, six points adrift of the joint leaders, Melrose and Gala,

and four clear of the bottom pair, Heriot's and Dundee.

Neither of the extremes should alter even though Gala have to take on

their age-old rivals, Hawick. Gala's record in that series is far from

impressive, with only three national league wins to set against a draw

and 14 defeats. All three, though, were at Mansfield Park, as is this

afternoon's match.

Also, Hawick have not had their troubles to seek with Tony Stanger and

Nick Bannerman pulling out of the threequarter line. Jock Mallin

replaces Stanger, the international wing who has had a back injury, and

Gregor Sharp transfers to centre in place of Bannerman with David Gray

returning at full back.

Craig Chalmers has recovered from last week's leg bruising more

quickly than expected. The international stand-off will be in his

accustomed role against Heriot's at the Greenyards, and the champions

surely will not fall in a match that marks the official opening of the

#230,000 extension to their clubhouse. Nor should Edinburgh Academicals

lose at home to Dundee, who will be without Andy Nicol and Guthrie

Batchelor.

Two capped players, Rob Wainwright and Alex Moore, return for

Academicals. Wainwright has been troubled by an inflamed Achilles

tendon, and Moore has been on a police training course. Ford Swanson

switches to centre both to accommodate the international wing and to

cover for the injured Rowen Shepherd.

Carl Hogg returns for Melrose after injury, Andrew Redpath giving way

to the international flanker, and Jed also restore back-row regulars,

with Kevin Liddle and Kevin Armstrong returning against Selkirk at

Riverside Park.

Selkirk can at last give David Graham his debut as hooker. He was

pulled out of the team against Gala last week because he had already

played for Melrose this season, and it was not until this week that the

Border League gave permission for his switch.

Stirling County will be without Stewart Hamilton for the Bridgehaugh

match against Kelso, and Ken Logan is doubtful because of his father's

death. Jimmy Norval, joining brother Malcolm in the second row,

deputises for Hamilton, who has a knee injury, and Kelso have had to

recast their threequarter line, with Stewart Lang returning on the left

wing and Scott Tait switching to centre in place of Ewan Common, who has

hamstring damage.

David McVey, Stirling's unfortunate Glasgow flanker, will not, after

all, be returning to rugby in the second XV today. After an

ankle-ligament injury he has now hurt a wrist.

Jon Price has again dropped out of Boroughmuir's pack. Gerry Dryburgh

stands in at lock for the short journey to Myreside.

Watsonians have had to make no fewer than four changes in personnel,

including calling on Roddy McLeod (the Australian) at outside centre and

Roddy McLeod (the Scot) at prop. The Antipodean takes over as Scott

Hastings has a slight leg muscle pull. Riki Cowan and David Lochore

return respectively at left wing and No.8, with Scott Aitken switching

to lock.

Finally, spare a thought for Bob Easson and his son, Bryan, as they

think ahead to the Raeburn Place match. When they arrive they will head

for different dressing rooms -- Bob as Academicals' backs coach, Bryan

to play for Dundee.

* THE Scottish region of the Women's Rugby Football Union hold their

international trial at Burnbrae this afternoon (12.30). Matches follow

against England's North-west at Waterloo on Sunday, November 29, and the

North-east at Headingley two weeks later.