Tom McGee replaces Bruce Douglas at prop, the test player having damaged a foot. Bates however reckons Douglas should only miss this one match.
In the back-row John Dalziel is rewarded for his pre-season endeavours with a starting berth at blindside flank instead of Andy Rennick while Semo Sititi makes his first start of the season at No 8 with Kelly Brown on the bench.
In the backs wing Simon Danielli is back after illness and an ankle injury and Ben MacDougall is also restored after the stomach upset that forced him to miss the win against the Ospreys.
Reivers team: 15 Calum MacRae; 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Ben MacDougall, 12 Garry Law, 11 Simon Danielli; 10 Charlie Hore, 9 Chris Cusiter; 1 Paul Thomson CAPTAIN, 2 Steve Scott, 3 Tom McGee; 4 Opeta Palepoi, 5 Mark Blair; 6 John Dalziel, 7 Andy Miller, 8 Semo Sititi
Substitutes:16 Ross Ford, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Colin Stewart, 19 Wayne McEntee, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Brendan McKerchar, 22 Lee Kibble
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