Looking ahead to the game, Bates said: "We need to take the intensity from the Northampton game forward into our match against Ulster this week.
"We have learnt some important lessons in the Heineken Cup and we are looking forward to putting what we have learned into practice in the Magners League."
With hooker Ross Ford out due to a suspension imposed on him by the club, Steve Scott starts will also make his first start of the season whilst Bruce Douglas returns at tighthead prop.
Back-row Ross Beattie has recovered from a hamstring injury and will pull on the No. 8 jersey.
Border Reivers team:
15 Calum MacRae
14 Simon Danielli
13 Ben MacDougall
12 Garry Law / Nick De Luca
11 Brendon Daniel
10 Steve Jones
9 Chris Cusiter CAPTAIN
1 Ryan Grant
2 Steve Scott
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Craig Hamilton
5 John Dalziel
6 Scott Gray
7 Andy Miller
8 Ross Beattie
Substitutes
16 Sean Crombie
17 Ed Kalman
18 Richie Vernon
19 Scott Newlands
20 Brendan McKerchar
21 Gregor Townsend
22 Garry Law / Nick De Luca
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