And a bumper crowd is expected when Melrose welcome Gala to the Greenyards in the BT Premiership on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

It is the first meeting of the local rivals this season and has added spice as it doubles as a Border League match.

In the same fixture last season, Melrose edged it 26-23 after Joe Helps converted an audacious penalty from 50 metres at the death. And the centre is expected to return from injury just in time to play a part this year.

The kick was to prove crucial in the title race as Melrose pipped the Maroons to the championship on the final day of last season.

The fact that former Gala player Ewan McQuillin could start for Melrose this weekend only adds to the sense of anticipation.

However, Gala won the last meeting of the two sides - the Border League Cup Final at Berwick in April - and they currently top the table in the Premiership after recording five wins in a row.

Although Head Coach George Graham disputes a claim made by his opposite number, John Dalziel - a former Gala captain - that Melrose are the underdogs.

Melrose are the home side but they claim the picturesque setting of their ground in the shadow of the Eildon Hills often leads to their opponents raising their game againt them.

Graham told the Border Telegraph: “Melrose are an excellent team, with an excellent set-up, and excellent coaches; we’ve got a really good set up here, a good bunch of boys and we’re sitting at the top. But form goes out the window when you’re playing against Melrose and all the other Border teams, it’s all about who wants it most on the day.

“They don’t win the league two years on the trot unless they are a good team.” But he added: “We love playing them and they love playing us and I’m sure it will be a really cracking game.” A number of players on both sides are expected to make their debut in the fixture this weekend, with injuries playing their part.

Samoan star Opeta Palepoi remains a doubt for Gala after he was forced to sit out the club’s 32-6 win over Boroughmuir last weekend with a back injury, while former Braw Lad Gavin Young has been ruled out for eight weeks after breaking his eye socket against Edinburgh Accies.

Last season’s Players’ Player of the Year Craig Borthwick tops an extensive injury list which includes David O’Hagan and Craig Robertson - all key players for the club last season.

Chris Auld, an EDP with Edinburgh, another important player for Gala this season, has been loaned out to London Scottish, although Melrose have also lost the services of Auld’s club mate Damien Hoyland to the Scotland Sevens squad.

However, Gregor Mein, Gala’s Young Player of the Year last season, made his comeback from injury with Gala A at the weekend.

And, young stars such as Ruairi Howarth, Gary Robertson, Craig Dods and Keith Young, have stepped up to the mark.

Reflecting on his team’s performance against Boroughmuir on Saturday, Graham said: “I thought we played some sublime rugby today but we also played some really dumb stuff.

“We never looked after the ball for periods of time which let Boroughmuir back into it. However, I thought our defence was absolutely immense.

“We had one line break against us in the whole game and they never really looked like scoring because our first up tackling was awesome, there were some huge collisions.

“The boys really put their bodies on the line after the disappointment of the first half against Accies.

“But I’m really, really pleased today and it’s not very often you’ll hear me express joy about the performance, but I’m really, really happy.” While Melrose and Gala clash at the Greenyards on Saturday, elsewhere in the BT Premiership, Hawick are away to Edinburgh Accies.

And, in BT National League 1, table toppers Selkirk face second place GHA away, Jed-Forest travel to Marr, Kelso make the trip to Aberdeen, and Peebles are at home to Dundee.