Glasgow looking to mirror Magners success

Lineen's men have been in fine form this season and are currently in line for an end-of-season play-off place as they look to become the first Scottish side to claim the Magners League crown.

Victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last weekend gave a timely reminder of their title credentials but Lineen is continually stressing to his side that consistency is the key if they want to be serious contenders come the business end of the season.

"We're top of the Magners League and that's fantastic," said Lineen.

"We're realistic. We know there are only four points between first and seventh and we have played some weakened teams, though sometimes without four, five or six of our internationalists of our own, but the message now is that we need to play like a team that is top of the Magners League.

"We want and have to keep winning in what is a massive December, in these games with Gloucester and then two great top of the Magners League matches with Edinburgh."

Glasgow face English outfit Gloucester in the Heineken Cup at Firhill on Friday evening and Lineen wants to see them continue where they left off against Ulster.

Teams from the Magners League have won three of the last four European crowns and Lineen admits he would love his side to be in the mix to achieve something similar when the knockout stages begin next April.

"We're part of a league that does well in the Heineken Cup and have developed confidence that we now need to take into Europe," added Lineen.

"I would love to be in Europe at the end of the six group games - that would be a massive achievement.

"I've been told millions of times in the past week that there's only one way to go (from top of the Magners League), but the guys have worked hard and are buzzing at the moment."

Those sentiments were echoed by Scotland skipper Cusiter, who returns to the Glasgow starting line up for the first time since the autumn internationals.

The former Lions tourist knows better than most the highs and lows of professional rugby and he recognizes the need to maintain standards whatever competition he and his team-mates are playing in.

Successive European defeats to Biarritz and the Dragons have left Glasgow with a lot to do to reach their first continental quarter-final but Cusiter knows that Heineken Cup progression isn't all that rests on Friday's clash with Gloucester.

"I don't think you can go from the level of performance we showed last week, then just not bother for two weeks and then come back (for the games with Edinburgh)," said Cusiter.

"We have to put performances in back-to-back to challenge in Europe and the Magners League.

"To go to Ulster and win comprehensively in the end was a massive step forward, but we're in a tough place after losing our first two games in the Heineken Cup, so we have a lot to prove in this tournament and we have to start by targeting a win this week.

"Glasgow struggled over the winter period last year and lost a lot of points in the league, so December and January are huge months for us."