50 up for Murchie as Glasgow eye Welsh win

Glasgow Warriors will strive to land another important RaboDirect PRO12 win on the road in Wales when they face Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm, live on BBC ALBA).

Three weeks ago, Gregor Townsend's team claimed a vital 28-10 victory away to reigning tournament champions Ospreys, before beating Connacht and Zebre at Scotstoun Stadium in their last two fixtures.

Saturday's visit to Cardiff's spiritual home is another crunch fixture for the Warriors, who then head into a Heineken Cup double header away to Northampton Saints and home to Ulster.

Head coach Townsend told www.glasgowwarriors.org: "We've established momentum with wins in our last three games, and the challenge is now to sustain that at a very difficult away venue like the Arms Park.

"We've only won there once before, back in 2002, and that record underlines just how passionate and difficult an environment Cardiff and their supporters create for opposition teams. We know how dangerous the Wales and Lions players in the Blues backline are, and they also have a very tough forward pack.

"That said, we've demonstrated on a number of occasions in the recent past that we have both the ability and the mindset to win in tough arenas. We'll need to be as tenacious and clinical as we were against Ospreys, taking our scoring opportunities when they arise."

Townsend's starting XV for the game shows nine changes from that which ran out in the win over Zebre.

Behind the scrum, Peter Murchie comes in at full-back for his 50th appearance in a Warriors jersey, Alex Dunbar and Peter Horne resume their centre pairing, Sean Lamont replaces hamstring injury victim DTH van der Merwe on the left wing and Henry Pyrgos starts at scrum-half.

Up front, Dougie Hall slots in at hooker, captain Al Kellock comes into the second row, John Barclay starts at openside and Ryan Wilson dons the No.8 jersey. New signing Josh Strauss, who made his debut against Zebre, moves across the back row to blindside flanker as a result.

Townsend said: "It's a sign of the strength in depth we have at the club this year that despite having 10 key players injured, I firmly believe we're sending out a very strong side this week.

"A number of players who got an opportunity in the team last week certainly underlined their capabilities, and those who are coming back in this weekend know they need to maintain high standards.

"Having that level of competition is great for everyone, and ensures that there is always a real edge to our work both in preparation and out there on the pitch.

"I'm delighted for Peter Murchie that he's reaching 50 appearances this week. Tom Ryder did likewise against Zebre, and they're two of our most consistent players who work extremely hard at their game."

The Warriors won both last season's meetings between the teams, but have never before emerged victorious from three successive games against the Blues.

We've arranged a screening of BBC ALBA's coverage of Saturday's game at Waxy O'Connor's on West George Street in Glasgow city centre.

Space will be reserved for Warriors supporters in the basement area of the bar, with snacks served at half-time.

GLASGOW WARRIORS TEAM TO PLAY CARDIFF BLUES IN THE RABODIRECT PRO12 AT THE ARMS PARK ON SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER (KICK-OFF 6.30PM, LIVE ON BBC ALBA)

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Alex Dunbar
12 Peter Horne
11 Sean Lamont
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Gordon Reid
2 Dougie Hall
3 Mike Cusack
4 Tom Ryder
5 Al Kellock (CAPTAIN)
6 Josh Strauss
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

SUBSTITUTES

16 Finlay Gillies
17 Ofa Fainga'anuku
18 Ryan Grant
19 Tim Swinson
20 Chris Fusaro
21 Niko Matawalu
22 Byron McGuigan
23 Stuart Hogg

Not considered for selection due to injury: Chris Cusiter (shoulder), Rob Harley (knee), Ed Kalman (back), Rory Lamont (leg), Moray Low (knee), Pat MacArthur (foot), Graeme Morrison (knee), DTH van der Merwe (hamstring), Jon Welsh (shoulder), Duncan Weir (knee)