Glasgow play the English giants at Firhill on Friday night in their only home pre-season friendly. The real stuff starts a week later when reigning Magners League champions Munster visit on league business.
"Wasps have been the benchmark in English rugby and they will be thereabouts at the end of the season in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup," said Mark in the Evening Times.
"Having played for them, I know they love to come north and beat Scottish teams on their patch, so they will be out to put us in our place.
"But we have the perfect chance in front of what will be a big home crowd to really get the fans buzzing about the season ahead.
"On top of that, if we beat Wasps, we can take a massive confidence lift going into our opening Magners League fixture with the defending champions Munster on Friday week.
"There is no doubt this friendly has extra significance for us.
"Wasps treat no games as a friendly, and if we win on Friday it will be a victory won on its own merits."