Course set for a Canal voyage

Form at home key to Highland

Highland head coach Dave Carson reckons home form will once again be key for his players as they prepare to make the step up to National 3 this season.

The Invernessmenare in National Cup action against St Boswells tomorrow in their first game since winning Caledonia 1 last season.

Highland have a stunning home record, having not lost at Canal Park since a 19-15 defeat by Caithness in March 2013.

Carson knows that will be put to the test this season but he reckons his side can catch out some teams unfamiliar with the long trips north.

Carson said: “We have some big challenges ahead. It’s going to be a big change from the last two or three years.

“I think it will be quite a big step up, although it’s difficult to say how big just now.

“Over the summer we have looked at what we are going to have to change in order to compete at this level.

“We have got a great record at home but it will be a lot harder to keep that intact this season.

“St Boswells are in the same league but theywon’t be used to the four-hour journey to play against us.

“We do it every other weekandwehave a routine that we know works well for us.

“But perhaps teams might now know how to prepare for the one-off long journeys.

“It’s important we try and blow away teams early on in our home games.”

Highland have bolstered their squad, with the additions of prop Lewis Sinclair and wing Mike Gordon from Ross Sutherland, while wing Alex Murray has stepped up from the youth ranks.

Richard Sim and Paddy Bryden will not feature this season, whileMorris Dillon will only play for thesecond XV.

The other notable change from last season sees AndrewFindlater take over the captaincy from Kevin Brown, who remains at the club.