As Glasgow prepare for their opening league game against Newport Gwent Dragons at Hughenden on Friday evening (ko 7.30pm), JP spoke to Glasgow official website.
"Physically, we're in better shape than I've ever known us," JP commented before training at their Whitecraigs base this afternoon. "A summer at home has been the best thing for us."
Glasgow, JP added, are also stronger in the depth of resources. "For the first time we have a squad that's fully competitive," he pointed out. Every position will be contested for selection when all players are fit. "It's a boost if you know you have someone pushing hard for your position."
Petrie was confident that that could counter-balance the loss of such international players as Gordon Bulloch, Sean Lamont, and Cammy Mather. The captain identified especially Mike Roberts and Graydon Staniforth as wings who could compensate for Lamont's departure to English club rugby. "Both are big, strong runners, and Graydon's an experienced guy," JP said. Staniforth has been in Australia's sevens squad, and Roberts has come from London Wasps, English premiership champions for the past three seasons.
Another pinpointed for mention by JP was his fellow cap, Craig Hamilton, Glasgow's recruit from Newcastle Falcons. "His arrival has been great for us. His ball-winning in the lineout so far has been fantastic," the captain explained.
JP was also looking for some of the younger players to come through, forwards such as John Beattie, James Eddie, and Stuart Corsar, and the 19-year-old John Barclay. "The young guys should be stepping up," the captain claimed. "John Barclay's big for his age, and the under-21s have been playing over the summer." Beattie, Eddie, and Corsar were in the Scotland's squad who finished sixth in the IRB Under 21 World Championship in Argentina in June – top-placed among the four home countries.
"I would like to see those guys coming through," JP added with special mention for Corsar, the prop from Aberdeen Grammar. "You won’t get anyone with more heart at that age," the captain remarked.
However, JP tempered his remarks with caution after two defeats in the past week. Glasgow lost a development, training match against Edinburgh Gunners at Whitecraigs last Monday evening, and that was followed up by defeat in a higher profile game against Newcastle at Kingston Park on Saturday.
"We have to be realistic and realise that we can't just turn up and it'll happen," the captain commented. "A wake-up call is no bad thing now, better than three weeks into the Celtic League season."
JP also insists regular success against the Welsh players at club level in the Celtic League should inspire Scotland at international level.
He said: "If you look at the Welsh side which won the Grand Slam this year, it's pretty much the same side which got the wooden spoon and were whitewashed a couple of years before.
"We know these guys and play against them week in, week out. We've beaten them and they have beaten us as well but on paper, they are the same level of side as us.
"If they have been able to do that then there's no reason why we can't.
"These are guys you are getting on top of regularly so there's no reason why we can't do the same thing when we come together as a national team.
"They have big forwards who have skills and that went a long way for them last year.
"I like to think we are capable of doing that although, at the same time, you have to stay true to the Scottish way of playing which has its benefits.
"It's just that they are playing with so much confidence, but on paper we are as good if not better than them so it's not too big a leap to see us doing very well in the Six Nations."