The Maroons bounced back from behind in their latest BT Premiership clash at Netherdale on Saturday to defeat a Glasgow Hawks side which boasted Warriors captain Al Kellock and his teammate Tyrone Holmes in their starting line-up.

It followed their 60-22 thumping of Currie a week earlier and sets them up for their first Borders derby in the league away to Hawick, who kick-started their season with a win at Ayr.

Looking ahead to the encounter at Mansfield Park on Saturday, Graham told the Border Telegraph: “It is a fantastic result for them, it will give them a huge boost of confidence to come up against us this week and I’m sure it will be a ding-dong of a game.” While Gala have been praised for their ability to grind out a win, their stuttering starts to games could once again prove costly when the silverware is handed out at the end of the season.

Recalling the victory over Hawks, Graham said: “I’m over the moon with the win but really disappointed with the way we started the game.

“I knew what their strengths were - I knew they were going to have a good driving line-out, I knew they were going to put pressure on at the break-down - and, as much as we talked about it and practised it, we just never really dealt with it.

“But then, as usual, in the second half they showed a lot of character when they came out and scored some really good tries.

“It was disappointing that we never scored that fourth try because we were really pushing for it.

“But, at the end of the day, we are only three games in. We’ll get better, everybody else will get better, but I’m happy where we are at just now; there is still a lot to do.” Gala are still without the services of last season’s Players’ Player of the Year Craig Borthwick and Young Player of the Year Gregor Mein through injury, as well as club stalwart Andy McLean, who it was confirmed this week is taking a break from rugby.

However, there appears to be no shortage of young stars ready to step in to take their place.

Graham said: “I’ve been with this group of players, 95 per cent of them, for six years; they are a great bunch of boys and they get on well with each other. And we’ve got some good young laddies coming through.

“Josh Irvine is just stepping up and is doing really well, Ruairi Howarth is maturing all the time in his first season in senior rugby, and Craig Dods is holding down the 15 position really well now, so we’ve got a really good squad.

“We’ve got a few boys who are reaching their older years. The likes of Ewan Johnstone, who is 40-years-old and played 80 minutes of rugby (against Hawks) - that’s a fantastic effort from him; OP (Opeta Palepoi) is another guy who is 38 and played 75 minutes, so I’m really pleased; but we just need to make sure we look after them.

“Gregor Mein is back running but I still think he is a few weeks away; Craig Borthwick is not going to be ready until November; and Gary Robertson will be ready hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

“Andy McLean is just taking a break and when he wants to come back he’ll come back, and if he wants to play rugby he’ll play rugby. But Craig Dods is doing very well just now and I’m happy with what I’m getting from him.” Gala travel to Mansfield Park to tackle Hawick on Saturday, September 20, kick-off 3pm.

Elsewhere in the BT Premiership this weekend, Melrose are away to Glasgow Hawks.

In BT National League 1, league leaders Selkirk face a trip to third placed Dundee, Peebles welcome Biggar to the Gytes, Jed-Forest travel to Watsonians and Kelso are away to Hillhead Jordanhill.