Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend says he expects a reaction from his team as they gear up for a return to GUINNESS PRO12 action against Munster at Scotstoun.

The Warriors are coming off the back of a European double header where they suffered two defeats to Toulouse.

However, they have won their last twelve PRO12 matches at Scotstoun continuing their club record for home wins since losing there to the Dragons in November 2013.

And the omens are in Glasgow’s favour with their last four fixtures in the GUINNESS PRO12 all being won by the home side on the day.

The Warriors have won three of their last four clashes against the Munstermen but they will be without internationals Stuart Hogg, Alex Dunbar, Sean Maitland and Pat MacArthur who miss out through injury.

Townsend has made ten changes from the side that faced Toulouse with Peter Murchie coming in for Hogg while Sean Lamont replaces Maitland and Dunbar’s absence is filled by Peter Horne.

Elsewhere, DTH van de Merwe replaces Tommy Seymour and Niko Matawalu gets the nod ahead of Henry Pyrgos at scrum-half.

Townsend said: "After our European double header with Toulouse, our focus now returns to the GUINNESS PRO12 and our clash with the league leaders.

"Munster are incredibly tough opponents and we know we face another huge challenge at Scotstoun.

"With both teams coming off the back of losses in Europe, we will see two highly motivated sides and, with Munster sitting one point above us in the Pro12, it is shaping up to be a cracking match. Once again we're expecting a large crowd to get behind the team."

Munster's only defeat since round one of the GUINNESS PRO12 came at home to Ospreys in round 4.
Indeed, the Munstermen have not lost a PRO12 encounter outside Ireland since they visited Scarlets on March 1.

In last season's PRO12 each side won its respective away game before Glasgow won the Play-Off 16-15 at Scotstoun.

For Anthony Foley’s side there are eight changes from the side that lost in Europe to Clermont with Felix Jones, Andrew Smith, Ian Keatley, BJ Botha, Duncan Casey, Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell and CJ Stander all absent from the starting XV.

Kevin O’Byrne and Stephen Archer come into the front row while Sean Dougall and Robin Copeland start in the back row.

And with just one point separating the two sides in the PRO12 table, Munster assistant coach Brian Walsh admits he is wary of the threat the Warriors pose.

"Glasgow have definitely been the form side of the PRO12 so far. They've had a similar fortnight to us in terms of losing to Toulouse twice and being close to them both times,” he said.

"Obviously us going over to Glasgow, there's a bit of history there, and I'm sure at home Warriors will be looking to get their PRO12 campaign back up and running and flowing with the confidence that they've been playing with so far this season.

"It's a very tough task to head to a place like Scotstoun, and coming out of the intensity of Europe can put a strain on your squad – the knocks and bangs and the short turnaround – but we got the review of Clermont out of the way and we're now very focused on putting in a performance in Glasgow and hopefully getting a result."

At Scotstoun Stadium, 2.40m Live on Sky Sports
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 45th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Andrew McMenemy, Lloyd Linton (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)