Glasgow Warriors will return to action tomorrow night (Friday 4 December) in the first game of what they hope will be a December to remember.
The Warriors travel to Ravenhill for their Magners League showdown (kick-off 8pm) before back-to-back Heineken Cup games against Gloucester. The month culminates with the home 1872 Cup derby against Edinburgh on Sunday 27 December (kick-off 3.05pm).
Both the Warriors and Ulster sit joint-second in the Magners League and will be seeking to lay strong foundations with their performances tomorrow night ahead of a busy festive period.
“December is going to be a huge month for us,” said Warriors head coach Sean Lineen, ”but we can’t afford to look too far ahead.
“Ravenhill is never an easy place to go and play. Ulster have won their last three home games and did the double over us last season. But this game is a bit like our first of the season against Munster in that we know what’s coming. It’s going to e a huge physical challenge.
“I’ve been really impressed with how the players not involved in the Autumn Tests have trained under the guidance of our new head fitness and conditioning coach Stuart Yule. He’s worked wonders with the players that make up the backbone of our squad.
“It’s vital that we lay down a marker tomorrow night which sets the tone for the coming weeks.”
Scotland flanker John Barclay is one of seven Warriors who played in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests to be named in Lineen’s side, and despite only being 23 years old, is one of Glasgow’s senior players having been at the club for six years.
Barclay is named captain on this occasion as Alastair Kellock is rested alongside no.8 Johnnie Beattie following their involvement in all three internationals.
Scotland captain Chris Cusiter starts on the bench following three intense weeks with the Scotland squad making way for Mark McMillan who will start at scrum-half. McMillan’s half-back partner, Dan Parks, continues to hone in on his 1,000th Magners League point sitting just 25 points of the landmark total.
In total, Lineen has made five changes, one positional, to the team that drew 9-9 with the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium in their last game five weeks ago.
Colin Shaw is on international duty with Scotland 7s at the opening tournament of the IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai. As a result, Shaw is replaced by Selkirk and National Academy winger Alex Dunbar.
In the pack, Tim Barker returns to the starting XV in place of Kellock meaning Richie Gray moves to the right hand side of the scrum.
With Beattie being rested, his flatmate and Scotland team-mate, Richie Vernon is handed the no.8 jersey.
Vernon will pack down with Barclay and Kelly Brown who is set to make his 50th appearance for the club.
Glasgow Warriors team to play Ulster in the Magners League at Ravenhill on Friday 4 December (kick-off 8pm)
15 Bernardo Stortoni
14 Alex Dunbar (Selkirk)*
13 Max Evans
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Thom Evans
10 Dan Parks
9 Mark McMillan
1 Jon Welsh
2 Dougie Hall
3 Moray Low
4 Tim Barker
5 Richie Gray
6 Kelly Brown
7 John Barclay CAPTAIN
8 Richie Vernon
Substitutes
16 Fergus Thomson
17 Kevin Tkachuk
18 Dan Turner
19 Calum Forrester
20 Chris Cusiter
21 Colin Gregor
22 Peter Murchie
* = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy

This article was originally posted on 3-Dec-2009, 14:51 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 3-Dec-2009, 14:51.