Stirling Wolves aim to go into the Super Series mid-season break on a high by beating Boroughmuir Bears at home tonight [Friday] - but head coach Eddie Pollock knows they will only manage that if they rediscover the form that deserted them against the Southern Knights last week.

The Wolves are just inside the top-four play-off places at present, and should be strong enough to stay there. But they have been bedevilled by inconsistency - that loss at the Greenyards was preceded by an excellent win over champions Watsonians - and Pollock is very wary of the challenge that the Bears will pose.

“The Bears have a talented group of young players, who Graham Shiel has managed to mould into an effective, very hard-working group,” he said. “The all-round ability in their group makes them a difficult opponent to play against and we are very much aware of the variety of threats that they pose.

“We are reflecting on an unusually inaccurate performance last week at Southern Knights, and I expect a positive reaction this week.”

The Bears can climb above the Wolves with a win, but Shiel, their head coach, does not expect it to be easy. “We know that Stirling have a very solid set piece and an attack to match, which has made them a very threatening outfit,” he said. 

“They have influential players who can break games open, so we must find ways to impose ourselves on Stirling to build pressure and take our opportunities.”

Watsonians, humiliated 64-0 last week by capital rivals Heriot’s, have what looks like the ideal chance to bounce back when they take on the Future XV tomorrow. Heriot’s themselves are at home to the Knights, and a bonus-point win will take them level at the top of the table with the Ayrshire Bulls, who have a rest weekend.