The Scotsman

Premiershi­p play-off battle set to hot up

- Gary Heatly

The battle for the last two Premiershi­p play-off spots will, weather permitting, intensify this afternoon, with all five sides who are gunning for them set to be in action.

Currently, Marr are in third spot in the table on 57 points after 15 games and need two more points to guarantee their place, while Heriot’s Blues are in the fourth on 44 points. But Edinburgh Accies (42, 15), Kelso (40, 14) and Musselburg­h (40, 15) are still in with a shout of making the post-season once 18 regular campaign games are completed. Hawick and Currie Chieftains are assured of their play-off berths.

Heriot’s are at home to eighth-placed Selkirk, Accies and Kelso meet and Musselburg­h are hosting leaders Hawick. Ahead of their match, Heriot’s head coach Phil Smith said: “Despite the recent weather wehopethep­itchatgold­enacrecanq­uicklyreco­verand be ready – the boys are excited to get back to the action.”

Selkirk are not in the play-off picture, but a confidence-boosting away win at Musselburg­h before Christmas means they will be tough to beat.

Fifth-placed Accies defeated Glasgow Hawks last week and ahead of their clash with Kelso, the Edinburgh side’s head coach Iain Berthinuss­en said: “Our players know the challenge that Kelso will bring on both sides of the ball and that excites this group, we must be brave and impose our game on them.”

Elsewhere, second and third meet at Malleny Park with Currie taking on Marr in a repeat of the 2021/22 Premiershi­p final. Already relegated Jed-forest host ninth-placed Glasgow Hawks at Riverside Park.

 ?? ?? Phil Smith: ‘Boys excited’
Phil Smith: ‘Boys excited’

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