BT PREMIERSHIP 1

MATCH OF THE DAY

Heriot's v Glasgow Hawks

Hawks would take a huge step to retaining the championship with a win at Goldenacre. The clubs currently both top the table on 75 points with the Glasgow side's points difference putting them marginally ahead.

Defeat would not be the end for Heriot's who still have a game in hand but it would be ominous with Hawks still having no fewer than four up their sleeve. Peter Wright, the Hawks coach, was unequivocal saying: "This is the game we want to win."

Part of motivation is revenge for a 27-22 defeat at Anniesland, Hawks' only home defeat of the season. A key man for Heriot's that day was centre Rob Dewey and Wright did not attempt to hide it being a big boost to hear Dewey was required by Edinburgh.

Kenny Milne, the home coach, acknowledged Dewey would be a big miss but pointed out that Andrew Olsen and Nick De Luca, the Scotland under-21 cap, are fast improving.

Glasgow have taken Hawks flanker Steve Swindall so Greg Francis starts while in the backs both Colin Shaw and Kenny Sinclair are injured so Mike Adamson and Ian Monaghan start.

Prediction Heriot's by a whisker

GHA v Currie

The other match of the day is at the opposite end of the table where these teams plus Watsonians form the suspects for the remaining drop spot.

Currie seem well ahead on points but this is their last match. Ally Donaldson, their coach, said: "In the past few weeks we have played a number of big games, not least beating Hawks to reach the BT Cup semi-final.

That is useful experience." GHA have two games in hand.

Currie are strengthened with the return of David Officer, Richard Snedden, Gav Scott and Bruce Ward while GHA have lost John Beattie to a knock in the under-21 defeat of England.

Prediction GHA squeeze home in high-scoring thriller

Aberdeen GSFP v Watsonians

While Watsons battle for vital points Grammar have the luxury of warming up for next Saturday's cup semi-final at minnows Dundee. Watsonians make seven changes as the squad is strengthened with the return of their Scotland Sevens caps and under-21 players of whom scrum-half Jamie Blackwood and winger Andy Turnbull look likely to make most impact.

Brian Clark, a Grammar spokesman, said: "This is a highly important game. We haven't played for some time so will be going full blast for match fitness."

Grammar bolster their squad with winger Dave Millard, who has been released by Glasgow.

Prediction Grammar fitness assured

Melrose v Ayr

The team with one away win visit the team with one home defeat. However, it is Ayr with a cup semi-final next week, away, who have the motivation.

Andy Henderson, the home coach, said: "Let's hope a decent spring day makes the boys want to play positive running rugby."

Besides the cup concerns, Ayr coach Craig Redpath is looking for a league win to be totally safe. Wingers Steve Manning (hamstring) and Stuart Magorian (knee) are replaced by Olly Scot and Murray Richardson while Henderson gives young winger Dave Whiteford another outing.

Prediction Rose record remains

Boroughmuir v Hawick

With one defeat in their last 15 outings and currently unbeaten in eight, Muir target a win to lock-in third top spot.

The Greens had been going well but hit the buffers last week when they were bundled from the cup by Dundee HSFP.

Hawick are boosted by the return of Garry Law from the national under-21s and aim to reward lock Ian Elliot who makes his 300th appearance.

Boroughmuir are missing only winger Rory Couper (holiday).

Prediction Muir motor on

Biggar v Gala

The home team are safe, the visitors already relegated. Biggar coach Gary Parker has published his own plan for the season's structure and uses this game to highlight it: "It has been stopstart since the end of January. Coaches have to work very hard to get players up. This highlights the need to have the league played off in a one-er."

Gala bring in Greg Brown at scrum half for Tim Stuck. Game 1 was won with a last-minute try from Biggar's Eddie Mannawaiti who has returned to New Zealand so Parker takes a look at young lock Steve Cunningham.

Prediction Double for Biggar

BT PREMIERSHIP 2

Murrayfield Wndrs v Selkirk

There is irony in the fact that, while Murrayfield Wanderers languish in second bottom spot, they are one step away from BT Finals Day, with a Shield semi-final against Preston Lodge or Hamilton in the offing.

The possible glory on April 30 has to be replaced by the more pragmatic and immediate task of avoiding the drop however, something they will do if they beat Selkirk and Peebles lose today's final league match against Dundee at Mayfield. "It is a must win game for us, " said Wanderers' George Threadgall, "because if we lose and Peebles win, we have to take full points from our two remaining matches.

"That will be tough with the Shield semi-final looming as well so it would be great if it could be settled now. We will have five regulars out including lock Tony Cooper and centre Chris Foster."

Prediction Wanderers to ensure safety

BT PREMIERSHIP 3

Hillhead-Jordanhill v Dunfermline

The top of BT Premier Division 3 stays wide open due mainly to the seeming unwillingness of the protagonists in the promotion race to grab their chance when it is on offer.

The top three, Cartha Queens Park, West and Livingston have all stumbled on the way to the line leaving a gap for fourth placed Hills to exploit in their run-in of home matches. Faced with a Dunfermline outfit who are the only other side who can still claim a promotion spot, Bill Macdonaldm the Hills coach, confirmed that he would be going with the same squad which produced the tremendous team effort in dumping West a couple of weeks ago.

"We have a couple of niggling injuries to Marty Lane and Scott Weston but we will be up for a win which will keep the pressure on the three sides above us" he said. "After being thumped 28-0 at McKane Park, this is going to be some game but we have been getting better and hopefully we will improve even more for this one."

Alan Cowan, the Dunfermline team manager, revealed that an injury hit Dunfermline will be without big players Stewart Hannah and Jason Sime. "We have competed well when we have had our top side out, " he commented, "but although we have some players back, it will be a big ask to get the sort of result we had against Hills at McKane Park."

Prediction Hills to close in on that promotion spot

BT NATIONAL LEAGUES

On what is the last scheduled League Saturday of the season, there are promotion and relegation to be settled in all nine divisions The only confirmed champions are Hamilton (NL1), Perthshire (NL2), Falkirk (NL4) and Montrose (NL5CaledoniaB), so there are crucial contests today to help decide five championships.

In NL3, Morgan lead Allan Glen's by two points, and both complete their programmes today. Morgan simply need a win, but although they are at home, they meet third-placed Hawick YM. Glen's face a trip to Newton Stewart. In NL5(East), Penicuik lead by four points, but have played a game more than Broughton and Lasswade, and could thus miss out not only on the title, but on promotion. The crunch comes in a fortnight when Broughton host Lasswade in a postponed match.

GHK are only two points from the top of NL5 (WestA), but look likely to miss out on promotion since Waysiders/ Drumpellier and Dumfries are ahead of them. All three face away games.

Hillhead and Loch Lomond are both assured of promotion from NL5 (WestB), but with both clubs locked on 66 points, the Alexandria men are likely champions since they have two games in hand.

One of Strathmore, Kinross or St Andrews University will be Champions of NL5 (CaledoniaA), and one will miss out on promotion.