George Marshall, the Gala president, says his club could not have wished for a better fixture for their first appearance in the British & Irish Cup with a bumper crowd expected to turn up for the match with London Scottish at Netherdale on Saturday.

The Pool 6 match is one that has been the talk of Scottish club rugby since the draw was made a few months back.

Last year's Scottish Cup winners could come up against the likes of Phil Godman, Jim Thompson and Dave McCall among other Scots who play for the Richmond-based club.

Speaking at a photoshoot at Carter Bar – the point at which the A68 crosses the Scotland-England border – yesterday Marshall said: "Everyone at the club is very excited to be in the British & Irish Cup first and foremost and also to be welcoming a club with the history of London Scottish to our ground for the opening fixture.

"It will be a tough match but, with a number of well-known Scottish players in their ranks and our team aiming to prove that they can compete at this level, it promises to be a cracking encounter."

Two years ago, Gala were not even a top-flight club but, in their first year back in the upper echelons in 2011/12, they finished in the top four and also won the national knock-out event by defeating Ayr in the final. They have continued their good form this season, winning six of their seven RBS Premiership games thus far. Under the tutelage of the formidable George Graham, it's fair to say they are quietly optimistic of causing an upset.

"It is great for Scottish club rugby that we have four clubs [Melrose, Dundee HSFP and Stirling County the others] in the B&I Cup this year. It is something different for supporters to get excited about while it gives our players something to strive for and show that they can match semi-pro and pro teams from England, Ireland and Wales," Marshall added.

It remains to be seen whether Godman, the former Scotland stand-off, and Scottish's other high-profile players will travel north for the fixture with some English Championship sides previously using the opportunity to rest big names.

However, they will not be taking the trip to Netherdale lightly with the hosts enjoying a fine record in their own backyard over the last two seasons. London Scottish have had recent experience of a club side north of the border having taken on Melrose and came out 28-12 winners.

Gala and London Scottish are joined in Pool 6 of the 32-team event by Moseley and Llanelli.

Melrose, the reigning Scottish champions, are also in action on Saturday, starting their third successive year in the competition with a trip to Doncaster Knights. In 2010/11, the men from the Greenyards posted wins against Esher and Nottingham and last term they got the better of Bedford Blues and Aberavon.

In neither year did they progress past the pool stages, but they will be aiming to go one better this time around.

They look set to travel to Yorkshire missing a few key players due to injury with a number suffering from knocks. Nevertheless president John Reed is looking forward to the 'away day'.

"The players love playing in this event and with a number of new and young players in the squad who haven't experienced it before they are keen to get down to Doncaster. We know it will be a tough encounter against a big pack and the coach and players are working hard to be ready for it," he said.

Llandovery and Nottingham make up the other teams in Pool 8.