Smith relishing facing 'one of the toughest teams in the league'

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith is relishing the chance to test their improving form against the BKT United Rugby Championship title holders at Scotstoun.

Warriors host DHL Stormers on the back of a five-match winning run and fresh from double success against Edinburgh.

Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “After finishing 2022 strongly, coming up against the defending champions will provide us with a good measure as to where we are in our development.

“The last few weeks have shown the continued development that this group of players has undertaken, and the next job for us is to continue along that path against one of the toughest teams in the league.

“We are striving to compete with the best week in, week out, and we look forward to having the Warrior Nation behind us once again on Sunday afternoon.”

Smith has brought in hooker George Turner and handed JP du Preez his second start in the second row.

George Horne starts at scrum-half after contributing 13 points off the bench at BT Murrayfield while centre Huw Jones has been drafted in to face his former club.

GLASGOW TEAM:

1. Jamie Bhatti

2. George Turner

3. Lucio Sordoni

4. Lewis Bean

5. JP du Preez

6. Matt Fagerson

7. Sione Vailanu

8. Jack Dempsey

9. George Horne

10. Tom Jordan

11. Kyle Steyn (C)

12. Huw Jones

13. Sione Tuipulotu

14. Sebastian Cancelliere

15. Ollie Smith

REPLACEMENTS

16. Fraser Brown

17. Nathan McBeth

18. Simon Berghan

19. Alex Samuel

20. Euan Ferrie

21. Cameron Neild

22. Ali Price

23. Domingo Miotti