| Bates said: “We are really looking forward to this challenge on Friday having only played three games since our last home game in January against L’Aquila in the European Challenge Cup.
“Connacht are a very good side and have been well rested throughout the international period so they should be in top form coming into this game.”
The line-up sees Calcutta Cup players Scott MacLeod and the newly re-signed Bruce Douglas return to Reivers duty alongside seven other Reivers players who have been involved with the Scotland squad throughout their successful RBS 6 Nations campaign.
Simon Danielli and Semo Sititi also return to Netherdale after they turned out for the successful international invitation side, the Barbarians, last Friday at Welford Road when Danielli scored two spectacular solo efforts from the half-way line in the 52-42 win over Leicester Tigers.
Border Reivers team:
15 Stuart Moffat; 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Ben MacDougall, 12 Calum MacRae, 11 Nikki Walker; 10 Gregor Townsend, 9 Brendan McKerchar; 1 Paul Thomson (CAPTAIN), 2 Steve Scott, 3 Bruce Douglas; 4 Scott MacLeod, 5 Opeta Palepoi, 6 Kelly Brown, 8 Semo Sititi, 7 Andy Miller
Substitutes:16 Will Kay, 17 Tom McGee, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 John Dalziel, 20 Johnny Weston, 21 Scott Gray, 22 James King
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