Kyle Rowe wings in as Glasgow make five changes for Lions

The Warriors know that a win will keep their hopes of a top-two finish in their own hands going into the final round of competition, after picking up two bonus points in the defeat to the Bulls last weekend. 

Angus Fraser joins former Dundee Eagle, and childhood friend, Murphy Walker in the front row, with Scotland prop Oli Kebble also into the team at loosehead prop. 

Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown continue in an unchanged second row pairing, while Euan Ferrie and Henco Venter both come into the back-row after industrious shifts off the bench in Pretoria last time out. Scotland co-captain Rory Darge retains his place on the openside. 

Henco Venter is in at number eight (Image: SNS)

George Horne and Tom Jordan continue their half-back combination, while the midfield pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall are together for the fifth consecutive match. 

Kyle Rowe is the only alteration to the starting back-line as the Scotland winger comes into the team in place of Sebastian Cancelliere, joining captain Kyle Steyn and fullback Josh McKay in the back-three.

Smith has an impressive bench at his disposal with  Johnny Matthews, Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson the front-row replacements, while Max Williamson, Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey are also in reserve. 

READ MORE: All the stats and play-off permutations ahead of Lions vs Glasgow

The back-line is again covered by Jamie Dobie and Duncan Weir, the latter having become only the third player in Glasgow Warriors history, following Tommy Hayes and Dan Parks, to surpass 900 points when slotting the crucial last-minute penalty in Pretoria last Saturday.

Speaking following selection, Smith said: “Training this week has been competitive and focused, with everyone looking forward to tomorrow’s challenge.

“The Lions are a dangerous team across the field, who have the ability to hurt any team in transition and who will look to attack from anywhere.

“They will provide us with a stern test, and we know that we will have to be at our best tomorrow afternoon.”

The teams

Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Marius Louw (c), Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Morne van den Berg; Morgan Naude, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Willem Alberts, Ruan Delport, JC Pretorius,  Emmanuel Tshituka, Francke Horn

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Dreyer, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruan Venter, Hanru Sirgel, Sanele Nohmaba, Jordan Hendrikse

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (c), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Tom Jordan, George Horne; Oli Kebble, Angus Fraser, Murphy Walker, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Jamie Bhatti, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, Duncan Weir