With Europe back on the menu this weekend for the uruks of Ireland, Wales and France to feast on, Edinburgh have the weekend off while Glasgow are going back in time to fulfil a rescheduled match against Ulster.
The Ulstermen are still technically chasing a playoff spot while Glasgow are trying to play the first XV in to some sort of form – or indeed, find a first XV – and with that in mind it is almost a full (current) international backline in action, the exception being Lelia Masaga. That means the return of the Dunbar/Jones midfield that played a large proportion of Scotland’s games last year and the return of the party boys at half back.
In the back the team is a little more depleted with Jonny Gray and Ryan Wilson still hoping to be back fit by the playoffs but Fraser Brown, Callum Gibbins and Matt Fagerson all timing their comebacks nicely. The bench is pretty useful loooking, and might even give former Lion Ryan Grant a chance to prove he’s worth a last hurrah in Glasgow colours before retirement at the end of the season.
With Jason O’Halloran saying earlier in the week that Glasgow are looking to take the mental side of pro rugby more seriously, a good win for the Warriors would do their self-esteem wonders as a side that often struggles on the road. Stopping Ulster picking up a 4 try bonus would be the act of kindness Edinburgh would most like to see so there’s still interest from both sides heading into the end stages of the inaugural PRO14 season.
Glasgow Warriors team to play Ulster in the Guinness PRO14, Saturday 21 April, kick off 6.05pm – live on BBC Two Scotland
15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Tommy Seymour, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Alex Dunbar, 11. Lelia Masaga, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ali Price; 1. Alex Allan, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. Siua Halanukonuka, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Tim Swinson, 6. Rob Harley, 7. Callum Gibbins (capt), 8. Matt Fagerson
Replacements: 16. George Turner, 17. Ryan Grant, 18. Zander Fagerson, 19. Greg Peterson, 20. Matt Smith, 21. Henry Prygos, 22. Peter Horne, 23. Nick Grigg
Not available due to injury: Adam Ashe (ankle), Jonny Gray (shoulder), Oli Kebble (ankle), Paddy Kelly (ankle), Pat MacArthur (shoulder), Kiran McDonald (shoulder), DTH van der Merwe (thigh), Leo Sarto (shoulder) and Ryan Wilson (chest).
Ulster Rugby: C Piutau, L Ludik, L Marshall, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, J McPhillips, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, R Kane, A O’Connor, I Henderson (Capt), N Timoney, S Reidy, J Deysel;
Replacements: R Best, K McCall, T O’Toole, K Treadwell, C Ross, P Marshall, A Curtis, T Bowe.