AL KELLOCK has singled out Cardiff No.8 Xavier Rush as the man Glasgow must stop when they host the Blues in tonight's Rabo-Direct Pro12 crunch clash.

A crowd of around 5,000 is expected for a match featuring so many internationals that it is likely to be played with the intensity of a Test match.

Sean Lineen's men are sitting in the fourth and final play-off place, some six points ahead of the Blues who must win tonight's 7.35pm encounter to keep their own play-off aspirations alive.

Kellock, who will return to his berth at lock to skipper Glasgow, has no doubt about how big a challenge awaits his men, but with Warriors having lost only one of their last 14 league games, he is rightly bullish about their prospects of beating the Blues.

He explained: "Over the 10 years I have been playing pro rugby, Xavier Rush has consistently been the best player I have been up against. Cardiff have some great ball carriers in Jamie Roberts and Alex Cuthbert, but for me Rush is the man we have to knock down every time.

"He virtually always makes the hard yards for Cardiff and is also great at the breakdown –and if he has a big game it drags a big performance out of his team-mates.

"Keep him quiet and it will have a negative impact on Cardiff, I have no doubt. But this is going to be a huge challenge for us."

There have been selection surprises on both sides for the big clash. For Cardiff, Dan Parks has been denied the chance to face his former side with Ceri Sweeney preferred at stand-off and, in fact, the now-retired Scotland man is not even in the Blues match-day 23.

Meanwhile, Warriors head coach Lineen has made five changes to the starting XV from that which trounced Pro12 back-markers Aironi a week ago.

With Kellock taking his usual place in the second row, rookie lock Nick Campbell makes way, although surprisingly Tom Ryder retains his place ahead of Richie Gray.

Rob Harley returns at blindside flanker in a familiar back-row with Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson, but there is no place for another returning Scotland international, with John Barclay left to kick his heels on the bench.

At scrum-half, Chris Cusiter replaces Henry Pyrgos with Graeme Morrison at inside centre. Federico Aramburu moves to the wing while Stuart Hogg returns at full-back.

Warriors won the first meeting between the teams this season 34-13 in the Welsh capital, but Lineen's men haven't defeated the Blues at home since a 28-0 win in November 2008.

And Kellock is certain coming out on top in the breakdown is vital if Warriors are to reverse that trend at Firhill.

He explained: "The breakdown is an area we have improved on immensely. Really that came about after the way we were bullied in there by Leinster in our Heineken Cup tie with them at the RDS.

"Young guys like Chris Fusaro have come in and have been absolutely tremendous, and with Rob Harley and Ryan Wilson in the back row, we have youth, mobility and hunger – all of which is going to ask Cardiff a lot of questions."

Kellock also had words of support for Duncan Weir, who is preferred to Ruaridh Jackson at stand-off.

He said: "The fact that Duncan is starting this game shows you how much confidence Sean has in him."

lMeanwhile, Andy Robinson is to continue as Scotland coach after meeting with SRU chief executive Mark Dodson.

The Scots have won only two Six Nations matches since the former England coach took over in 2009 and they exited the World Cup before the quarter-finals for the first time at last year's finals.