Cardiff Blues on the other hand suffered their biggest-ever home loss since the region was formed in 2003, going down 48-19 to Ulster on Friday.
Townsend rang the changes from the side that saw off Connacht the week before, and they were tested to the limit at Scotstoun by a battling Zebre who were looking for their first ever RaboDirect PRO12 win.
Zebre took a 13-0 lead but tries from Tim Swinson, DTH van der Merwe and Graeme Morrison helped the hosts overturn the scoreline with Peter Horne's late penalty sinking the Italian outfit.
Now Townsend is adamant the Warriors are ready to sign off before the Heineken Cup break in perfect style.
"Now we have real momentum behind us going to Cardiff," Townsend told the Evening Times.
"The target is to get the win there that will take us into the Heineken Cup break full of belief and confidence, but we know the Arms Park will be a very tough proposition.
"There is no point having a squad if you are not prepared to rotate and give everyone game time.
"We knew with Zebre not having won before they came to Scotstoun they would be playing with passion."
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