Returning players can give Greens a much-needed lift
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caithness are intent on recovering from a horror start to their season in the Caledonia Region Division 1 north conference when they make their fourth trip in a row to the north-east on Saturday.
A clutch of former regulars are set to make their first appearance against Aberdeenshire after their return to action was delayed through injury or work commitments.
The Greens were left kicking their heels last Saturday after learning their scheduled home clash against Highland Seconds had been called off while they were warming up for it.
The game was one of half a dozen far north sports fixtures to go by the board because of the prolonged blockage of the A9 following a crash at Dunrobin.
The coaching team in charge of the 1sts following the sudden resignation of coach Kenny Russell will be looking for the returning players to give a much-needed lift to a squad reeling from three heavy defeats.
They conceded 162 points in deflating reverses on the road versus Moray, Mackie and Ellon.
The back division is set to be given a wholesale refresh with Charlie Quinn and Cameron Ryder back from injury and scrum-half Euan MacDonald and fly-half/full-back Scott Webster also featuring.
Kris Hamilton had been due to make a surprise return from retirement last weekend but the scrum-half is ruled out of the trip to Woodside because of a work shift.
Mark Nicholson also comes back and will be joined in the front row by skipper Hamish Coghill, who has returned from guesting for Oban Lorne in the amateur world cup in France.
Tom David steps into the Greens' engine room after several impressive performances for the Seconds and the versatile Cole Wilson is also included.
On the debit side, Kevin Budge and Dougie Webster are likely to miss out through work.
Second team coach Cameron Boyd, who has been spending more time recently helping the Greens, said: "It's shaping up to be a good squad and they're just really keen for a game now.
"They were gutted they couldn't get a run out last week but they trained really well instead."
Aberdeenshire have moved into second place behind Moray after an impressive 41-31 win in Ellon. The Elgin side, meanwhile, made it five bonus wins out of five with a hard-fought 38-31 eclipse of Mackie at Stonehaven.
RAF Lossiemouth climbed into mid-table with their 48-7 defeat of basement side Aberdeen Wanderers.
