Glasgow Warriors have named their starting line-up for the match with Aironi at Firhill tomorrow night (ko 7.35pm).
The game is the first part of a vital home double header, with Cardiff Blues visiting Firhill next Friday. The Warriors currently occupy the last of the four play-off positions as they prepare for the final five regular season games.
Sean Lineen told www.glasgowwarriors.org: “We’ve worked hard to put ourselves in a competitive position at what is now very much the business end of the season.
“We have to make the most of the opportunity that’s in front of us by continuing to show the character, appetite and fantastic team ethic that have got us to this point.
“The players and staff are fully focussed on the task in hand and absolutely determined to finish the season in the strongest possible fashion, starting with what will be another hugely tough game against Aironi. They're coming off a great result against Munster, which underlines what a genuine threat they are.”
With a number of the club’s Scotland contingent on a recovery week, Sean’s starting line-up for the game shows four changes from that which ran out at the Liberty Stadium.
In the backs, Tommy Seymour comes in on the wing in place of Colin Shaw, who sustained a jaw injury in the Ospreys game after scoring a crucial try. Stand-off Duncan Weir, meanwhile, gets the chance to regain pole position in the RaboDirect PRO12 points scorer table – he currently trails Ospreys’ Dan Biggar by four.
The two switches in the pack see Nick Campbell step in for Al Kellock in the boiler house, while Mike Cusack makes a welcome return in the front row. The tight-head prop, an integral part of the Warriors pack, hasn’t featured for the club since injuring an ankle in the New Year’s Day derby win over Edinburgh Rugby.
The Aironi game holds extra significance for three other front-rowers. Hooker Dougie Hall will captain Glasgow for the first time, Ryan Grant notches up his 50th RaboDirect PRO12 appearance, and Moray Low returns to the fray for the first time since sustaining a knee injury against Scarlets in January.
Moray today signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the Warriors until at least the end of May 2014.
Sean said: “We’re again very happy with the side we’re sending out on Friday. The pack, to a man, were outstanding against Ospreys, and with Mike Cusack back in the mix, I’ve every confidence that will be the case again this week.
“It’s great for Dougie Hall to have the captaincy – he’s vastly experienced, he’s just signed a new contract and he’s hungry to achieve success with the Warriors.
“Duncan Weir has had a very positive season and, having had a taste of international rugby, he’s itching to get back out there and keep doing well for us. We’re looking forward to seeing how he teams up with the centres, Fede and Alex, both of whom were terrific last time out in Swansea.
“It’s going to be another tough, physical battle, but we know what’s required and the guys are primed to deliver.”
Glasgow Warriors

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Alex Dunbar
12 Federico Aramburu
11 David Lemi
10 Duncan Weir
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Ryan Grant
2 Dougie Hall (Captain)
3 Michael Cusack
4 Nick Campbell
5 Tom Ryder
6 Calum Forrester
7 Chris Fusaro
8 Ryan Wilson
Substitutes
16 Pat MacArthur
17 Gordon Reid
18 Moray Low
19 Rob Verbakel
20 John Beattie
21 Murray McConnell
22 Scott Wight
23 Troy Nathan

This article was posted on 22-Mar-2012, 11:32 by Hugh Barrow.