Kelso's Iain Fairley has become the latest player to be drafted into Scotland's squad to tour Australia and Fiji, replacing Bath captain Andy Nicol, who suffered a hamstring tear playing for his club against Newcastle on Tuesday.
For the 24-year-old, it was a wonderful boost just days after the disappointment of being on the losing side in the Tennents Velvet Scottish Cup final. He has, however, been presented with something of a dilemma since the selectors have left him to decide whether or not he should now play in his club's vital play-off with Heriot's FP on Saturday for the last place in next season's Premiership first division.
That is in stark contrast with his club captain, Adam Roxburgh, and Heriot's FP Hugh Gilmour, who were told on Tuesday not to play in the match.
Both clubs had praised the Scotland management on taking such a ticklish decision out of the players' hands, but the tour management would not be drawn yesterday on whether it was, consequently, unfair to leave Fairley with such a problem.
Coach Jim Telfer said: ''That's the decision. We don't want to do anything detrimental to the club.''
Tour manager Hastie, a Kelso club member, suggested that his case was not directly comparable with that of, in particular, Roxburgh, who, prior to Simon Holmes' arrival a week into the tour, will be the only specialist open-side flanker.
''He's a late replacement and these are different circumstances entirely,'' Hastie claimed. ''Whatever happens, Kelso will be happy.''
For his part, Fairley admitted to being thrown by the sudden turn of events.''I never dreamt I would get the call,'' he said.
''It was a bit of a shock, but you wish that shocks like that would come every day.''
On the subject of Saturday's game, he added: ''It's a very difficult choice to make and it's one that I'm going to discuss with the club. But, as things stand now, I'm going to play for Kelso on Saturday.''
Should he do so, it will make for another nervous 80 minutes for the selectors, but they are hoping for a less stressful time tonight. Gregor Townsend was expected to play for Northampton against Saracens but now seems set to miss the game.
Hastie said: ''As far as I'm aware he's not playing. I believe he has a neck strain, but it's not something that will stop him touring.''
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