Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend is looking for a far more resolute defensive performance against Benetton Treviso this weekend, insisting the Italians will pose a great threat to their hopes of a home semi-final. A thrilling 37-34 defeat of Edinburgh last time out was the Warriors’ sixth straight RaboDirect PRO12 win and saw them climb into second position with just two games remaining of the regular season. The Warriors are five points behind league leaders Leinster on 69 points but the race for second – which brings with it a home semi-final – couldn’t be closer with Munster (68) and Ulster (65) hot on their heels. A trip to the Stadio Monigo awaits on Friday evening and Townsend believes the strength of their opponents on their own turf will make this fixture far from straightforward. "Our win over Edinburgh has given everyone at the club a massive boost ahead of the final two games of the regular season, but we face another tough test in Italy,” said Townsend. “On home soil Treviso perform with an intensity and physicality that makes them one of the most challenging sides you can face in the RaboDirect PRO12 on the road and defensively we’ll need to be at our very best. "Conceding four tries last weekend really hurt us and we are determined to deliver a much improved defensive performance. "We pride ourselves on having a good defence and it has to be at that level this weekend to win in Treviso. “There is a lot of rugby still to be played this season and we must go out and put in an 80-minute performance if we’re to secure our place in the play-offs.” Stuart Hogg will make his first appearance in a Warriors jersey since January after recovering from a hamstring injury and will start at full-back in a much-changed side. Peter Horne will start at inside centre, while Finn Russell will switch to fly-half in place of Ruaridh Jackson alongside Henry Pyrgos who himself is replacing Chris Cusiter. Ryan Grant drops to the bench with Gordon Reid his replacement at loose-head, while there are also starts for Pat MacArthur, Geoff Cross, Tim Swinson and Tyrone Holmes. The Warriors have earned 26 points from their last six games and top the RaboDirect PRO12 form guide, but Treviso have won their last two outings at home in the league. Luke McLean replaces the injured Christian Loamanu and Marco Fuser and Manoa Vosawai come in for Corniel Van Zyl and Robert Barbieri as the Italian side look to halt the Warriors’ charge. Treviso currently find themselves in 11th position and will be looking to stave off the challenge of fellow Italian side Zebre, who are just four points behind them, for the Italian European qualification spot. At Stadio Monigo, 8pm local time (7pm UK & Ireland) Live on Mediaset/BBC ALBA Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 62nd competition game) Assistant Referees: Andrea Spadoni, Simone Boaretto (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Stefano Marrama (FIR) TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
