Aberdeenshire fixture will mean 'mix and match' for Greens
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Caithness men's 1st XV will, after all, return to Caley League 1 action on Saturday when they entertain Aberdeenshire at Millbank.
The Greens tried to rearrange the clash as a posse of their players are heading to the New Zealand international at Murrayfield on Sunday.
But after a round of complicated discussions with the city outfit and Scottish Rugby, the match is to go ahead.
The sticking point has been that Shire's women's side, the Quines, are slated to also travel to Thurso on Saturday to play the Krakens.
While the Aberdeenshire men were happy to reschedule the joint trip, the alternative date did not work for the Quines.
Caithness coach Kenny Russell understands the position the Granite City club found themselves in.
He said: "Travel budgets being what they are, I can totally see why Aberdeenshire wanted to take their men's and women's sides up on the same day. Ultimately it was their call and they have opted to stick with this Saturday."
Russell believes the problem has largely been caused by a lack of appreciation on the part of Scottish Rugby of the logistics of travelling to internationals from the hinterland.
He said: "By organising league games on the Saturday, they may have failed to realise how it affects players in areas like ours as they have to travel down to Murrayfield the day before the match."
The upshot is that his squad will be missing half a dozen bound for the international, as well as others on the injury list or unavailable.
"I reckon we'll be without nine or 10 first-team regulars," Russell said.
"The Seconds' match has been called off, which is good news as we would otherwise have found it very difficult to field a team."
Russell is, however, able to call upon experienced number eight Grant Anderson – back after a spell offshore – and full-back Cameron Ryder, who missed the last match following the birth of his first child. Jamie Mowat also returns at stand-off.
Second row is a problem area, with vice-captain Kevin Brims at the international and Kevin Budge and Dave MacIntosh both injured.
In the absence of Edinburgh-bound Euan MacDonald, the number 9 shirt will be filled by either Gordie Macleod or Graham Fryer.
Russell said: "It's going to be a bit of a mix and match with a few guys being fielded outwith their normal positions.
"But we'll just have to play the hand we have been dealt and I'm looking for the boys to do their jerseys proud and give Shire a really hard game.
"We'll be giving the guys a simple game plan and hopefully a big Millbank crowd will act as a 16th man."
Caithness are bidding to stave off a third successive defeat after heavy reverses away to Dunfermline and Ellon.
The match kicks off at 2pm.
