Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend insists now is the time for his squad players to come to the fore ahead of their GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso. The Warriors have made a storming start to the season to sit second in the league table and have won both of their opening European encounters. But with the autumn internationals now on the horizon Townsend will have to make do without a whole host of his star names, with 17 players going to Vern Cotter’s Scotland squad alone. And Townsend admits that his side’s strength in depth will be tested against a Treviso team they have already beaten once this season. "Last weekend's win over Montpellier was a big result for the club but our attention now returns to the GUINNESS PRO12,” he said. "We will have to work very hard for a positive result tomorrow night as Benetton Treviso are a very physical side and are much improved since the start of the season. "Having played them only a few weeks ago, we are all too aware of their strengths and the challenge they pose to us. "We'll have a number of players involved with Scotland, Fiji and Canada over the next few weeks, which means there are opportunities for others in our squad to stake a claim for a starting place in the team.” Peter Murchie comes in at full-back for Stuart Hogg, while Lee Jones and DTH van der Merwe start on either wing, in place of Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour. Richie Vernon returns from injury and partners James Downey at centre, with the duo having played together for Currie in the BT Premiership last weekend. Peter Horne comes in for Finn Russell at fly-half, while Fijian international Niko Matawalu replaces Henry Pyrgos at scrum-half. In the forwards Ryan Grant returns from a shoulder injury at loose-head, Pat MacArthur is retained at hooker and Rossouw de Klerk comes in for Euan Murray at tight-head. Tom Ryder and Leone Nakarawa start in the second-row, with Ryan Wilson also returning from injury at No.8 and Josh Strauss moving to blind-side flanker in place of Rob Harley. Chris Fusaro continues at open-side. Glasgow Warriors' solitary defeat so far this season in any tournament was 9-29 at Ulster in round 6 of the GUINNESS PRO12. Benetton Treviso have slipped to eleven straight defeats in all tournaments and bring in two new faces in the backline with Alberto Lucchese at scrum-half and Enrico Bacchin at centre who will pair with Michele Campagnaro. In the scrum, the back row will be formed by Italian internationals Francesco Minto, Simone Favaro and Alessandro Zanni who will make his 50th appearance in the GUINNESS PRO12. Corniel Van Zyl, on his 150th cap for Benetton Treviso, and will partner Tomas Vallejos in the second row and up front Davide Giazzon, Matteo Zanusso and Salesi Manu complete the side. At Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm. Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 21st competition game) Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Lloyd Linton (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (SRU)
