While full-back Fraser Harkness plays for the club international side against France at Galashiels tonight (7.30pm), centre Alex Dunbar will be in Inverness to face the French under-20s.

But while team-mates Harkness and Dunbar tackle freezing temperatures as well as opponents, Lee Jones will enjoy 22C heat in Wellington, New Zealand, as a member of the Scotland sevens squad taking part in the IRB World Sevens Series (see page 15 for report on Jones).

The appearance of Harkness – coupled with free admission to the game – should boost the number of supporters from the Royal Burgh making the short trip to Netherdale for the club international side’s debut in the Borders.

Having scored two tries against Ireland for the club side last year, Harkness is hoping for more of the same against the French.

He told The Wee Paper: “To be in the Borders and to score a couple of tries for Scotland again would be great and hopefully I can achieve that on Friday night.

“It is definitely a higher standard (than Scottish club rugby).

“It’s faster and it’s more physical, especially against France, which is they way they play. It was definitely harder than I expected it to be.

“It definitely improved me as a player. Walking out in the blue jersey was huge and really makes your season.”

Selkirk coach Kevin Barrie – who is also in charge of the forwards with the Scotland club side – believes Harkness is set for another impressive showing.

“Fraser is only 25 and a lot of people think he is older. He has always been in the mix, but never represented Scotland at under-18 or under-19 level, so these are huge games for him.

“Whenever there is a higher standard of opponent, Harky raises his game to match it.”

Less than 24 hours later, Selkirk are due to face GHA in the Premier Cup first round at Philiphaugh (2.30pm kick-off). But Selkirk president Donald Macleod fears another postponement.

He said: “It looks as if the pitch will be unplayable for our cup tie against GHA this weekend. The current backlog of postponed matches is already bad enough and we are considering whether to approach GHA and play our round one cup tie against them there, losing home advantage, but at least getting the game played.

“We will keep checking the pitch, but any change of venue would have to be agreed by Friday.”

Ahead of the match, Barrie said: “Having played so little rugby, we cannot afford to treat GHA lightly – anything can happen if we do.

“When we were beaten by Hawick in the Border League we decided to focus on the Scottish Cup.

“With the big teams battling it out for the league title, maybe a smaller side can win it.”

“The cup is a target,” added Harkness, who will likely miss tomorrow’s tie.