Highland head coach Dave Carson has pinpointed winger Craig Findlater as the man to derail Orkney’s Caledonia League Division 1 title challenge tomorrow.
Findlater scored two tries in the 39-7 victory against Mackie Academy FPs last week at Canal Park, having recently returned from injury.
Carson feels Findlater could be an important player for Highland once again this weekend when they make the trip to face the islanders.
Carson said: “Craig was back to his best, he got two tries and it was his pace that did it. It’s handy before the Orkney game. He’s keen to get back, he hasn’t played much rugby this season. Some aspects of the game against Mackie were very good but some were very poor.
“We were well up at half-time, even though we hadn’t played that well. In the second-half we were more constructed, and we certainly came into a better game.”
Orkney face the Highlanders at Pickaquoy and Carson expects a tough game against a side buoyed by a fine win against Gordonians last week.
Carson added: “I think the game will be won and lost up front. They have a well-organised eight forwards who play very good rugby.
“We need to play a wide game and run them a bit. We are working on that, we want to take the forwards on. It’s a big park at Orkney which should suit us well.
“They were close last year when they finished third. They’ve obviously pushed on and they got a good win against Gordonians last week.”
Orkney, meanwhile, have a golden opportunity to surge to the head of the table in the next three weeks. The islanders sent out a strong message to their rivals last week when they handed league leaders Gordonians their first league defeat.
Orkney are in fourth place but have three games in hand on the three sides above them.
First up are third-placed Highland, followed by a visit from Strathmore before Orkney travel to Ellon.
Orkney coach Garry Coltherd said: “These are three huge games for us but with home advantage in two of them I would back us against any side at Pickaquoy.”