It’s crunch time for Stirling County’s men’s first XV as they prepare for a defining stretch of their season.
The Bridgehaugh side currently sit second in National League Division One, having lost only one of their opening ten matches so far to assemble a total of 46 points.
They trail unbeaten leaders GHA by a solitary point, with nearest challengers to the pair, Glasgow Accies, sitting nine points behind County in third.
County will be the visitors to Accies at New Anniesland on Saturday, with the Glasgow team coached by a trio of former Scotland internationals in Ryan Grant, Ruaridh Jackson and Duncan Weir.
Following the West End dust-up, County will host GHA and then fourth-placed Jed Forest at home.
County head coach Craig Jackson is confident his charges are relishing the chance to perform against their rivals for glory.
Jackson told the Observer: “We think of the seasons in blocks and we’re really excited about this block of games – the boys have been training well and we’re in a good place coming into them.
“They understand the task at hand in the next three weeks, three massive games before Christmas but we’ll take each game as it comes, focus on our performances and our detail.
“It’s very different going into matches as a coach rather than being a player because you can’t control the outcome, but there is a little buzz and an edge you can’t deny.”
The former County and Melrose fly-half took over as head coach after former top man Eddie Pollock moved upstairs after guiding Stirling Wolves to consecutive Super Series finals – and Jackson has been delighted with his squad’s response to his teaching.
“The players have been brand new on that”, Jackson continued.
“I’ve been fortunate that we had quite a settled squad to begin with and so the job was more about building the cohesion and did a really clear understanding of the game identity we wanted, our strengths and our weaknesses.
“We’re only looking at Accies at the moment and they’re probably the most dangerous team in the league.
“They have a stacked coaching staff, they love to attack with lots of pace and a big back row so we know they will come to play rugby.
“This is a cup final for them in terms of keeping touch with the top two and they’ve only lost once at New Anniesland to GHA so we know it’s a massive game.”