Greenock Wanderers hope to make it a magnificent seven wins on the trot tomorrow when they make the long journey to the Borders to face Hawick YM in a vitally-important Second Division National League encounter.

The Borders side have not started the season well and have accrued three wins from their six matches to date. They also suffered the ignominy of defeat at bottom club Cambuslang last weekend.

However, nobody at Wanderers needs reminding that the Reds enjoyed a double success over the locals last season, winning narrowly at the Fort in the autumn but winning comfortably on home soil later in the season.

They are also unbeaten at home so far this season. For Wanderers, it is a serious test of their championship credentials.

Having already secured three wins on the road this season, Wanderers appear to have got that particular monkey off their back but tomorrow's fixture is the first of a number of long-distance journeys the team face over the next few months.

Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Thurso and Inverness all lie ahead and it is at these venues that Wanderers will find out if they have the mental attitude to tough out wins when it matters most.

Tomorrow's test will be difficult as YM will be hurt by their performance last weekend and looking to get back on track in front of a home crowd.

President Dougie Sloan said: "It's the first real away fixture where serious travelling is involved and, as always, we will look to prepare properly.

"We have won on the road at Kilmarnock, Cambuslang and Glasgow Accies but in terms of sheer distance, tomorrow's game brings its own challenge. We are positive and will go there looking to impose our will on the game." For Wanderers, Gregor Fletcher gets the nod on the wing due to Jason Smith's injury sustained last weekend. The youngster has put in some impressive performances for the second XV this season and fully deserves his call up.

Leigh Tyley also gets recalled after injury. Other than that, there is consistency of selection with pretty much the full squad travelling down to Hawick.

Coach Bob Adams has done his homework and notes that the Reds play a 10-man game with most of the action, as expected, going through the forwards.

Consequently, the Wanderers fringe defence will have to be tight and this throws a big onus on the back row trio of Chris Clark, Andy Love and Callum Robb to make the big tackles on the gain line. Hawick also have a poor disciplinary record this season and Adam is determined that Wanderers do not get embroiled in needless off-the-ball incidents.

The coach said: "We have to concentrate on our own game and keep our discipline. It is a big opportunity for us to maybe stretch our lead at the top as other top teams are playing each other so something will give there.

"The priority though, as always, will be to stick to our gameplan and I would hope the result will be dictated by the way we play and not the way YM perform." Games in the borders are always very tough, and uncompromising affairs with very often refereeing decisions tend to go with home advantage, so this is a massive test for the locals tomorrow.

Wanderers strength during the early part of the season has been the dominance of the forwards and once more Matt Gray and co will have to front up straight from the off and contest each and every ball.

So far this season the pack has come out on top and if they can do so again tomorrow then a positive outcome is likely.

This current Wanderers side have impressed this season and passed every test put in front of them. Tomorrow's examination will indicate further if the locals have the capability of staying the distance and consolidating their position as top dogs.

Hawick YM V Greenock Wanderers at The Haugh, Hawick Kick-Off 3 p.m.

Squad; D Watson [C], S Connolly, D Murray, L Tyley, G Fletcher, A Devlin, A McDougall, J McArthur, A McMichael, D Smith, M Gray, A Abernethy, A Love, C Clark, C Robb, M Lavelle, M Duncan, J Stewart.

Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.