When you start the season with nine tries and 67 points, it is as well to leave well alone and for the most part, Dundee HSFP coach Colin Robertson has done so this week.
High’s romp over Biggar was just the job to calm any pre-season nerves for the return to the RBS National League particularly those which came out of the sobering loss to Stirling in the last warm-up game.
However, so well did new Kiwi recruits Bryce Hosie and Jack Stewart slot into the team last week that a third will start against ambitious Hillhead-Jordanhill at Mayfield this week.
Alex Wright, who arrives in Dundee via Chester and is Scottish qualified, came on for the final half hour against Biggar to show up well and maintains his place at the expense of Pollok Islam, who drops to the bench.
The other change is enforced, with the absence through injury of Scotland Under-20 cap Gav Robertson from the front row but Steve Longwell, who came on as a replacement to give a rampaging display that included two tries, will start.
There’s a shuffle of bench personnel, including the former Scottish club international Scott Burnett, who has returned to the club having spent time with Heriot’s and Currie.
Championship favourites Howe of Fife left the Borders disappointed again with just a losing bonus point to their name after losing to Jed-Forest at Riverside Park, having led at half-time.
Given that the club has endured a disjointed pre-season, with several of Saturday’s team having basically stepped on the park for the first time for the first league game, Howe had an excuse for being a little rusty but a loss to a potential promotion challenger was one they could ill-afford.
The club did make a little history in fielding three brothers in the same backline in the Martins, stand-off Dom, centre Steve and wing Chris. The three combined for Howe’s best try last week.
Livingston, newly up from the East Leagues, are the first visitors of the season to Duffus Park and lost their opener to Lasswade last week.
Kirkcaldy are celebrating their 140th anniversary this season but have lost key men in the off-season like Craig Wilson and Cameron Goodall.
They will have a tougher test away against Musselburgh.
Perthshire, having edged Orkney in last week’s RBS Shield meeting at the North Inch to book the pick of the first round ties, are also at home against Morgan.
In the Bowl, the best tie looks like the meeting of Hillfoots and Harris at Tillicoultry.