Dan Lancaster showed up well on his debut

It wasn't the prettiest of victories but Warriors got the job done in a game they would have targeted for five points as Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, Rory Darge and Jamie Dobie scored before a late penalty try added a bit of gloss to the win. George Horne kicked four conversions in a steady performance to get Glasgow's title challenge is up and running.

For the Sharks, their tries came via Edwill van der Merwe, Vincent Tshituka and Lukhanyo Am, with Jaden Hendrikse slotting two conversions.

Glasgow flanker and player of the match Rory Darge told BBC Scotland: "It's great to be back and great to start with a win. We want to start the season well and know every league point counts.

"To get five points tonight is a great way to start the season.

"First half we weren't getting the results we wanted - just little detail not quite on it. It was about sticking to what we knew would work and executing it.

"We've had a few battle with Sharks and tonight was another battle.

"The way Franco goes about giving young guys opportunities, there's competition for places. The whole environment in pre-season and this first game has been great. It's exciting times.

"Attention will turn to Treviso, which hasn't been easy for us in recent years. If we go there and get a win as well we'll be in a really good place."

Glasgow lost Jack Dempsey after he picked up a groin injury during the warm-up while Darge was taken off after picking up a knock to his knee.

Dempsey was set to start after recovering from the hamstring injury that ruled him out for the latter stages of last season's campaign.

Smith told Scotland Rugby News: "It's a groin injury. These men work so hard on their recovery process to get back on the field. It's the same with Zander (Fagerson). It sometimes happens that you aggravate something else in the process.

"It happened in the warm-up. We'll see how serious it is.

"It's a completely different thing. He's had some big injuries for long periods in his life before, but he managed to claw his way back from a mental and physical perspective.

"He worked so hard, even during the off-season, to be ready for the start.

"He's in good physical condition. So it's understandable, more than understandable that he's a bit disappointed."

Darge was replaced after a man-of-the-match display but Smith insists it's nothing serious.

"It's just his knee," he added. "We'll see. But it's just a bump or a bruise. We're not sure. But I brought him off as a precaution."