BT CUP. ROUND 3

The BT Premiership sides enter the competition at the third-round stage and few shocks are expected in a series of lopsided-looking ties.

There's a rumour that a substantial spread bet book is available on the number of tries scored at St Andrews, where the Premiership 1 leaders and cup holders, Glasgow Hawks, take on the University and free-scoring Heriot's face Madras College FP.

This is no disrespect to the Fife sides, simply acknowledging that they will put up a plucky display before landing the consolation of a place in the first round of the BT Shield.

Perthshire v Edinburgh Accies

An upset could be on the cards at North Inch with Perthshire in top form, which has taken them to the top of National League Division 2.

However, they have lost their talismanic Samoan No.8, Sam Kaleta, who bade a regretful goodbye to the club a couple of weeks ago to return south for family reasons, and it falls on the shoulders of young Gary Coull to fill the No.8 shirt.

Jesse Westerlund will be influential at No.10, as will Pete Saunders, and there will be an intriguing clash between Patrick Coupar in the black and white of Perthshire, and his brother Matthew, who will be on the wing for Accies.

''I will make sure Matthew knows I am on the pitch,'' said Patrick, while Matthew confirmed that sibling rivalry will be to the fore. ''I would dearly love to beat my brother and my former club,'' he said.

Accies have disappointed, lying only mid-table in Premiership 2, and were not entirely convincing in last week's 22-7 win over toiling Kirkcaldy.

Having been thrashed by more than 50 points a few weeks ago at Stirling, they will be hoping this trip a few miles further up the A9 does not bring another disappointment.

Glasgow Accies v Jed-Forest

Glasgow Accies, who lie second to Perthshire in National League Division 2, know it will take a monumental performance at New Anniesland to out-do their visitors from Riverside.

They come into this one after a

29-22 win at Duffus Park last week, but would have liked a more convincing win behind them.

Jed's Gordon Hume recalled a recent trip to the west when they were unceremoniously dumped out of the cup by Kilmarnock, but insisted the team would be taking no chances this time.

He said: ''We have no changes in the backs from the side who beat Haddington last week, but Robert Ferguson and Chris Shaw step up to take over the prop positions. For the first time since his pre-season injury, No.8 Bevin Hart will be on the bench, but there will be no complacency. We know Accies are going well and we will treat them with respect.''

Kilmarnock v Stewart's Melville

That cup win over Jed will be in Kilmarnock's thoughts as they attempt to give their president, Dave Bonellie, the perfect birthday present with a win over Premiership 2 high-fliers Stewart's Melville.

Despite languishing third bottom of National League Division 1, Bonellie suggested that Kilmarnock may just have turned the corner.

He said: ''We are becoming more consistent and there is a real team spirit building. Our big players will be [vastly-experienced full-back] Robbie Stewart, who can be so influential with his kicking and [Kiwi centre] Joe McLeod. We will have a few fitness tests before the game, but the team are really up for this one.''

They will face a visiting side still battered and bruised after last week's shattering top-of-the-table encounter when their second place was taken over by Jed after a 47-0 defeat at Bridgehaugh.

Gordon Rigby, their team manager, said: ''We have made six changes to the side which lost at Stirling. We are in better shape, with Mike Elliot back on the wing and Ross Rennie restored at flanker after his week's suspension.

''We know how difficult a trip to Ayrshire can be, though having had less than memorable results in the knockout competitions against Cumnock and Garnock, we won't be treating this one lightly.''

Langholm v Ayr

Craig Redpath, the Ayr coach, is giving his side's trip to Milnetown the same sort of respect, although there will be changes to his side.

Scott Lines, Kyle Brunning and Steven Manning are rested with assorted bumps after the run of three Premiership 1 wins.

Redpath said: ''We will be giving Ollie Scott a start again at scrum-half, and all the players coming in have started for the top side this season so we will be approaching Langholm with the right amount of caution.''

A borderer himself, Redpath knows just how warily Ayr will have to tread in order not to be ambushed in Reiver country, but with Langholm fifth in National League Division 2, it will take a huge effort for the home side to get a result.

However, Chuck Muir, their director of rugby, refuses to rule out an upset. He said: ''Although we went down 22-0 at Perthshire last week, we did have five regulars out. This week, we will have Alan Hotson at No.8 after his spell at Jed. And at stand-off, young Neil Cubban is a real prospect, so we will hope to make a real game of it.''

Hamilton v Stirling County

One man who is eagerly awaiting kick-off time this afternoon is Craig Sangster, the Hamilton player/coach.

He said: ''From the moment I saw that we'd drawn Stirling, my old club, I've been looking forward to the game.

''I still live in Stirling and see a lot of their players, so I've been getting a fair bit of banter, as you might put it.

''Hamilton are going really well, but so are Stirling. We're going to have a good crack at them - we want to gauge how far we've come on. It should be a good game to watch. Both teams know how to score tries and have the winning habit.''

Bob McKillop, the Stirling coach, has Ian Noble and Shawn Renwick on the bench, but only because they are carrying knocks.

He said: ''No way is this a rest weekend for us - we expect a game of similar intensity to our league games. We played Hamilton pre-season and didn't touch the ball for the first half-hour. I'm looking forward to it because Hamilton will try to play rugby. We're virtually at full strength, so there can be no excuses if we don't do the job.''

Dalziel v Peebles

History has repeated itself this year because, for the second consecutive year, Dalziel have drawn Hawick YM in the second round of the cup and then progressed to host Peebles.

However, Dave Cockburn, the Dalziel coach is looking for a different result this time, even though he was on the winning side last year.

Cockburn was coaching Peebles at the time, but recalled: ''Peebles only just got through last year by three tries to two.

''Peebles have consolidated well and sit in mid-table in Premier 2, but after a shaky start caused mainly by players being out through injury, Dalziel have begun to come on to a game.

''Given how close it was last year, and given current form, we could just pull off a surprise result.''

Ellon v Melrose

Alex Duncan, the Ellon coach, aims to split his side's tie with Melrose into different sections. He said: ''We're playing eight games of 10 minutes, and the aim is not to lose five of them.

''We're confident of putting up a good show. We had a sticky start to our season, but in the last three weeks we've taken a giant step forward. We've moved a few players around and that has paid dividends.''

lThe tie between Morgan Academy FP and Gala has been postponed due to flooded pitches in Dundee.

ALL today's fixtures (all 3pm)

bt cup

Round 3 Annan v Selkirk, Caithness v Preston Lodge FP, Cumnock v Musselburgh, Dalziel v Peebles, Dumfries v Cambuslang, East Kilbride v Currie, Edinburgh Uni v Dundee HSFP, Ellon v Melrose, Garnock v Hawick, Glasgow Acads v Jed-Forest, Glenrothes v Boroughmuir, Hamilton Acads v Stirling County, Hawick YM v Berwick, Highland v Murrayfield Wndrs, Hillfoots v Haddington, Irvine v Kelso, Kilmarnock v Stewart's-Melville FP, Langholm v Ayr, Lenzie v GHA, Linlithgow v Dunfermline, Livingston v Aberdeen GSFP, Madras Coll FP v Heriot's, Marr v Cartha Queen's Park, Morgan Acad FP v Gala Postponed, Newton Stewart v Hillhead/Jordanhill, Penicuik v West of Scotland, Perthshire v Edinburgh Acads, RAF Kinloss v Biggar, RHC v Grangemouth, St Andrews Uni v Glasgow Hawks, Stewartry v Kirkcaldy, Strathendrick v Watsonians

tomorrow'S FIXTURES

scottish women's national lge

Prem Div GHA v Royal High Corstorphine, Hillhead Jordanhill v Kirkcaldy, Murrayfield Wndrs v Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians v Lismore

North Div Stirling Uni v Dundee Uni, St Andrews Saints v Inverness Craig Dunain

South Div Glasgow Uni v Melrose, Midlothian v Berwick, RDVC v Strathclyde Uni