Coming off the impressive display against Heineken Cup semi-finalists Leinster at Netherdale last Friday, Bates said: "We were pleased with bits of our performance last week and we feel we really could've won it.
"We are in a buoyant frame of mind but they are a tough side to play away and we are very conscious of the strength of their squad."
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 Tom McGee, 2 Steve Scott, 3 Bruce Douglas (CAPTAIN); 4 Scott MacLeod, 5 Opeta Palepoi; 6 John Dalziel, 8 Kelly Brown, 7 Scott Gray
Substitutes from: Will Kay, Paul Thomson, Colin Stewart, Semo Sititi, Johnny Weston *, Andy Miller, James King, Lee Kibble
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