You can read more of Disco's thoughts on Glasgow's pursuit of the PRO14 title and European Cup progress, as well as the fortunes of Scotland's international teams, at his excellent blog Top of the Moon.
KO 3.15 at Scotstoun Stadium
Sunday 13th January
Live on BT Sport 3
Champions Cup stats:
- Glasgow have won 6 and lost 4 of their games when they have been at home in Round 5 of the Champions Cup.
- The Warriors are going for their fourth consecutive victory in the Champions Cup - a feat that has never before been achieved in the club's history.
- A win would put Glasgow on the cusp of qualification for the knockout stages. A bonus point win would make leave them a hair's breadth away from a quarter final.
Teams
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Nick Grigg
12 Sam Johnson
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Brandon Thomson
9 Ali Price
1 Oli Kebble
2 Grant Stewart
3 D'arcy Rae
4 Robert Harley
5 Scott Cummings
6 Ryan Wilson (Co-Captain)
7 Callum Gibbins (Co-Captain
8 Matt Fagerson
Substitutes
16 Kevin Bryce
17 Alex Allan
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Tim Swinson
20 Chris Fusaro
21 George Horne
22 Adam Hastings
23 Lee Jones
15 Dan Fish
14 Owen Lane
13 Harri Millard
12 Willis Halaholo
11 Tom James
10 Steven Shingler
9 Lloyd Williams
1 Brad Thyer
2 Matthew Rees
3 Dillon Lewis
4 George Earle
5 Rory Thornton
6 Shane Lewis-Hughes
7 Josh Navidi
8 Seb Davies
Substitutes
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Rhys Carre
18 Scott Andrews
19 Macauley Cook
20 Nick Williams
23 Tomos Williams
22 Jarrod Evans
21 Aled Summerhill
Head-to-Head
15 ADV Glasgow Warriors
14 ADV Glasgow Warriors
13 ADV Glasgow Warriors
12 ADV Cardiff Blues
11ADV Glasgow Warriors
10 EVEN
9 ADV Glasgow Warriors
1 ADV Glasgow Warriors
2 ADV Cardiff Blues
3 ADV Cardiff Blues
4 ADV Glasgow Warriors
5 ADV Glasgow Warriors
6 ADV Glasgow Warriors
7 EVEN
8 ADV Cardiff Blues
Substitutes
16 ADV Cardiff Blues
17 EVEN
18 ADV Glasgow Warriors
19 ADV Glasgow Warriors
20 ADV Cardiff Blues
21 EVEN
22 ADV Glasgow Warriors
23 EVEN
Starting XV stats:
BACKS
Champions Cup tries
Glasgow Warriors 28
Cardiff Blues 8
Champions Cup appearances
Glasgow Warriors 143
Cardiff Blues 76
Average age
Glasgow Warriors 27.3
Cardiff Blues 26.7
Capped players
Glasgow Warriors 5
Cardiff Blues 2
FORWARDS
Pack weight
Glasgow Warriors 889kg
Cardiff Blues 890kg
Tight 5 weight
Glasgow Warriors 583kg
Cardiff Blues 566kg
Champions Cup appearances
Glasgow Warriors 114
Cardiff Blues 101
Average age
Glasgow Warriors 25.3
Cardiff Blues 27.0
3 Capped players 5
Changes from Round 2:
The two sides are taking very different ambition levels into this game and that's reflected in their selections. Glasgow know they can keep qualification for the knockout stages almost entirely in their own hands and have picked 10 of the 15 that started the previous European game against Cardiff Blues. Overall 17 of the matchday 23 return with most of the absentees being down to injury.
The visitors are not in the running for the quarter finals and just 3 of their starting XV from the game at the Arms Park return (12 of the matchday 23). They may have one eye more on league business but there's still plenty of talent in the Cardiff Blues lineup which is packed full of young players keen to grab their opportunity to impress.
Glasgow Greetings:
Almost 5 years since he made his pro debut for Glasgow, Kevin Bryce should finally get to play in the Champions Cup. The hooker / TH prop / LH prop will be the 230th player to feature in this competition for the Warriors. The game will also give Brandon Thomson his first ever European start.
Matchday Milestones:
Eight and a bit years after his Glasgow debut against Leinster at Firhill Robert Harley will become the first player ever to make 200 appearances for the club. Warrior number 188 has been a consistent presence for the club through nine strong seasons (so far) in which he has never given anything less than maximum effort for the cause. Big Bad Bob will also be playing a record 42nd Champions Cup match for Glasgow - taking over from Gordon Bulloch as the club's most capped played in this tournament.
There are more big numbers for another player who made his debut in that same match against Leinster at the start of the 2010/11 season. Ryan Wilson will play his 150th game for Glasgow. The co-captain is one of the spiky characters who have helped maintain the Warriors' transformation from soft touches which really began when former skipper Al Kellock joined up 4 seasons earlier.
Warrior to Watch:
It only seem fair to give that man Rob Harley another mention here - simply because his achievements are so remarkable. He's only played during 9 of the club's 23 seasons but he's been a teammate of 145 of the 300 other men who have pulled on a Glasgow jersey over the years. The big lock / back row is one of the players who still connects the current generation to the growing pains of a decade or so ago.
During the game attention will almost always be on where the ball is but if you get the chance take a couple of minutes just to focus on the work Rob gets through. Around the breakdown he'll be in near perpetual motion, making tackles, back to his feet, disrupt the ball, move out to strengthen the defensive line. His relentless efforts are appreciated and hopefully there are plenty more games to come as he sets new records for the Warriors.
Glasgow's Track Record...
...at home against Welsh sides in the pool stages of the European Cup:
7 wins
4 losses
Since moving to Scotstoun in 2012, Glasgow have managed 1 victory (Scarlets in 2015/16) and 1 defeat (Cardiff Blues in 2013/14) against sides from Wales.
Most recent meeting in Europe:
Officials:
Referee: JP Doyle (Eng)
AR1: John Meredith (Eng)
AR2: Phil Watters (Eng)
TMO: David Grashoff (Eng)
Previous Warriors' matches with Mr Doyle as referee:
2017/18 - lost to Montpellier (A)
Penalties: 21 (For 7 - 14 Against
2016/17 - Beat Racing 92 (A)
Penalties: 20 (For 9 - 11 Against)
2014/15 - beat Montpellier (A)
Penalties: 25 (For 9 -16 Against)
2013/14 - lost to Toulon (H)
Penalties: 17 (For 7 - 10 Against)
2010/11 - beat Dragons (H)
Penalties: 27 (For 12 - 15 Against)
Glasgow have yet to win the penalty count in a game that Mr Doyle has taken charge of. The English official (by way of his country of birth, Ireland) has in the past taken a particularly dim view of some of the Warriors' scrummaging. He doled out no less than 13 penalties against Glasgow props in two Champions Cup games in 2013/14 and 2014/15. Fortunately the home side's setpiece has improved somewhat since those days but it will still pay to be wary about getting on Mr Doyle's wrong side in this area of the game.