In Franco Smith's first team-naming press conference of the season, there was a sense of frustration that his team have been written off as title contenders. 

The Warriors head to Ulster on Saturday having been overlooked as potential back-to-back champions in some pundits' pre-season predictions.  

After naming his team for the trip to Belfast, Smith said: “We still don't think we are respected as one of the probable winners this year.  

“If I look at all the predictions, it looks like we are not in contention. Leinster is out there again winning it.” 

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The Warriors boss said rather than discussing retaining the title they won by beating the Bulls in Pretoria in June, his focus is on trying to win the title again.  

The achievements of last season are all in the past, he said.  

“We are focused on improving, getting better, establishing ourselves in this year's competition. 

“We are, from our perspective, not defending it. We will have to conquer it again.  

“The more we speak of defending it, the more we talk about last season, it becomes a ball and chain and that will force the ship to sink. 

“We are cutting ourselves loose from last season. We appreciated the effort and the pride that came with it. But that's that now. We are going on to the next challenge.” 

Franco Smith and Kyle Steyn lift the URC trophy in front of the Warriors crowd at ScotstounGlasgow head coach Franco Smith and captain Kyle Steyn lift the URC trophy in front of the Scotstoun crowd. (Image: SNS) The Warriors boss made it clear he feels his team has not been given the credit they deserve for their title-winning achievements,.  

"Some people think the Bulls lost it at Loftus instead of us winning it. People think that was a fluke. That we were lucky.”  

But Smith said rather than getting hung up on the opinions of others, he is laser-focused on making the team "heroes in Glasgow”.  

He added: “It's absolutely not about what people think, it's not about what has happened off the field.  

“It's absolutely, can we make these Scottish players better to win, be more significant on the Test match front, for us to win more consistently, or perform consistently, even if we don't win, to become significant, become a point of reference, heroes in Glasgow.  

“Our objective has not changed since I got here the first day, it's to be significant.”