Al returns after knee surgery and 20-year-old rookie pro Rob can't wait to pack down with the Glasgow captain for the first time in a competitive game.
“It is great to have Al back," said Rob in the Evening Times. "There is no question we have missed his leadership because he is so vocal on the training pitch – I can’t wait to play alongside him. I think the fact we are such a young pack only adds to the importance of having Al back, and he will give us so much in terms of experience.
“The other aspect of having him back is that it is great timing because you can guarantee that Aironi will look to take us on up front and try and bully us in the contact. Al’s return will inject a huge amount of confidence and self-belief into the side.”
Rob joined the Warriors from West Of Scotland on a two-year deal during the summer and the young forward has impressed hugely with his tremendous workrate.
With Scotland coach Andy Robinson set to name a replacement for the injured Al Strokosch in his Autumn Test squad after this weekend’s club fixtures, some have tipped Rob to repeat the same meteoric rise as his fellow-Warrior Richie Gray, but the youngster says all he is interested in is nailing down his place in the Glasgow side.
Rob said: “All I want to do is focus on the game against Aironi and trying to do my best. I guess it has been a meteoric rise, but I still have a lot to learn and an awful lot of hard work ahead of me.
“And, as a young player, I know it is going to be a challenge to play at my best consistently and also to keep trying to improve. There is no doubt that, with the skipper back in, I am going to learn even more.
“I enjoy playing at No.6 and second row, and I believe it is a big advantage to be versatile. I think the reason why things have gone well for me so far has been that we have really good structures at Warriors, and that makes it easier for me to be in the right place.
“If the Italians try to take us on up front then the fact we are so mobile and have the edge in youth will be a big plus tonight. Hopefully it is one area we can cash in on because, with Aironi at the bottom and just one place below us, it is important we knock them down.”