It was not a Guinness PRO14 side holding the European Champions Cup trophy aloft at the end of last season – that honour went to Saracens.

But the league that provided five of the eight quarter-finalists had a serious say on matters at the sharp end of Europe’s elite competition.

And this year, as the action returns this weekend, they are gearing up to have a sizeable impact once again.

Champions Cup

SATURDAY

**Glasgow Warriors v Sale Sharks

Scotstoun, Glasgow | KO 13:00**

Dave Rennie’s Glasgow side made the quarter-finals last year before coming royally unstuck at the hands of the eventual champions.

This time around, they kick off the PRO14 involvement on Saturday against a Sale Sharks side back at Europe’s top table for the first time since the ²⁰¹⁶⁄₁₇ campaign.

4⃣ days to go...

🎟️ Tickets are still available for this weekend's @ChampionsCup opener!

👉 https://t.co/oTTi9Ld6sK https://t.co/CnpGY7WjGT
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) 12 November 2019

It has been a mixed start to the domestic season for Rennie’s side, but with their Scotland stars back they will need a fast start to a tough Pool that includes old boy Stuart Hogg’s Exeter Chiefs and French stars La Rochelle.

Player to look out for: No one played more minutes or scored more points for Glasgow in Europe last season than Adam Hastings

Fast fact: Glasgow have won eight of the last 10 home games against Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup