Glasgow make six changes for Dragons tie

The Warriors' road to the Grand Final continues when they face Newport Gwent Dragons at Firhill on Easter Sunday (4 April, kick-off 3.05pm).

They then welcome Ulster on Friday 16 April (kick-off 7.05pm) before European champions Leinster come to town on the weekend of 23/24/25 April (date and time tbc).

Two of the changes to this week's starting XV are enforced as Scotland captain Chris Cusiter is sidelined with a calf strain whilst Jon Welsh's season is all but over having suffered a stress injury to his right leg.

As a result, Mark McMillan will start at scrum-half and Kevin Tkachuk will replace Welsh at loose-head prop.

In the pack, Fergus Thomson starts in front of Dougie Hall at hooker whilst captain Alastair Kellock returns from resting a shoulder niggle.

Kellock will lead the side from the second row where he partners Tim Barker.

In the back division, Colin Shaw is given the nod on the right wing in place of Peter Murchie following his return from Scotland 7s duty on the IRB Sevens World Series in Adelaide.

Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, said: "It's obviously a massive game for both teams and I'd like to see a big crowd along to help us on.

"We enjoy playing against the Dragons and there is a healthy rivalry between the two teams.

"They are the form team in the league at the moment. They're winning games and play with a real energy all over the park. It's always a difficult game for us and they will pose a great test."

Last weekend's match in Limerick saw try-scoring flanker, John Barclay, captain the Warriors on the occasion of his 100th game for the Warriors. Centre Graeme Morrison also played his 100th Magners League game.

But with a victory snatched from their grasp with just eight minutes remaining on the clock, Lineen wants a result this weekend.

"We've got to make sure every player brings their best game on Sunday and as a team we need to show what Glasgow Warriors is about," he continued.

"We have to earn the right to be in the top four. That only comes with consistency of performance and a lot of hard work."

Glasgow Warriors team to play Newport Gwent Dragons at Firhill in the Magners League on Sunday 4 April (kick-off 3.05pm)

15 Bernardo Stortoni
14 Colin Shaw
13 Max Evans
12 Graeme Morrison
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Dan Parks
9 Mark McMillan

1 Kevin Tkachuk
2 Fergus Thomson
3 Moray Low
4 Tim Barker
5 Alastair Kellock (captain)
6 Kelly Brown
7 John Barclay
8 Johnnie Beattie

Replacements

16 Dougie Hall
17 Ed Kalman
18 Dan Turner
19 Richie Vernon
20 Colin Gregor
21 Ruaridh Jackson
22 Hefin O'Hare