Andy Nicol, Glasgow Caledonians' captain and scrum half, will have surgery on an injured knee this weekend,as will another of the Reds' scrum halves, Fraser Stott.

As Richie Dixon announced his side to face Cross Keys on Sunday he revealed that the reds changing room is a bit like a scene from MASH with six other players, including four test playes also carrying injuries.

Nicol will be having an exploratory operation, and depending on the findings, it is expected he could be back in action in a month while Stott will be having key-hole surgery today and should also be back in a month.
The other injured players include Glenn Metcalfe, who has started running in training. He is expected to be available for the Reds' match against Edinburgh Reivers (15 September) or Ebbw Vale (22 September).

James McLaren, tis making good progress after key-hole surgery to remove a piece of bone from an ankle. He could be considered for his debut for the Reds against either Ebbw Vale or the game against Cardiff the following week while Shaun Longstaff is making a good recovery from his rib injury and is expected to return against the Reivers.
Donnie Macfadyen is making good progress after his ankle injury in the match against Munster (and should return against return against Neath next weekend, Stewart Campbell could also be back for the Neath game following his achillies problems.

The only injured player without a possible return date is Graeme Kiddie, the Reds' new young centre, who had a serious knee injury during the Students' World Cup in Italy last month.

On the pitch Gordon Bulloch, the Scotland hooker, will captain the side on Sunday. His brother, Alan, will make his first appearance of the season for the Reds after injury during Scotland's tour in New Zealand.

Chris Black, the Watsonians scrum half, has been included among the replacements as back-up for Graeme Beveridge because of the injury absence of Nicol and Stott.