THE BT Premiership play-offs are going to have a new winner this season – though, strangely, both sides have finals experience. Melrose, the host at today's showpiece, lost to Heriot's two seasons ago; Ayr, the visitors, lost last season. For one of them, it will be final vindication.

Both sides have romped through the season, losing only five games between them, and both won the home leg when they faced each other in the regular season. On that basis, Melrose would seem to be slight favourites, though both coaches agree it will be a tight, titanic advert for the rising quality on show in the Premiership

"They are a very, very well run club as well and are rightfully sitting top of the league," said Calum Forrester, the Ayr coach. "The organisation that goes on behind the scenes at Melrose at Ayr is huge. There have been a number of tight contests between us in various competitions, including finals, so it will be good to be in that position again.

"It will be a physical game with the speed and accuracy in the breakdown the crucial thing. When we played down there, we hammered their line for a long period and could not score, their defence was outstanding, We have to nail the breakdown and play from there."