GLASGOW Warriors coach Gregor Townsend will use today's London Scottish test to broaden fitness across his team ahead of the new season.

Following a thoroughly encouraging run-out against Harlequins at Scotstoun last weekend - with the English Premiership side narrowly winning 24-23 - Warriors will be in action at the Richmond Athletic ground for their last trial run before their Guinness PRO 12 opener at home to Leinster a week today.

In what will be the first time the two sides have met in over 15 years, Townsend will continue to feed his best players back into the pack, including the return of eight Scotland internationals.

Tommy Seymour, Henry Pyrgos, Gordon Reid, Kevin Bryce, Tim Swinson, Chris Fusaro, Alex Dunbar and Adam Ashe all return to the side, with Seymour, Pyrgos, Reid, Bryce and Swinson starting their first game since touring with Scotland in the summer.

Dunbar returns from a hip injury sustained in last season's PRO12 final with Leinster, while Fusaro returns to the starting XV after coming off the bench in last week's 24-23 defeat to Harlequins.

Townsend said: "This is a good opportunity for us to continue our pre-season preparations, ahead of the PRO12 opener against Leinster next Saturday at Scotstoun. It also enables more players to get some game time and to transfer their hard work from the training field into a full-blown rugby match.

"Although we were pleased with many aspects of our performance against Harlequins there were a number of areas to improve.

"It's given us plenty to work on in training this week and is an opportunity for us to build on the positive aspects of last week's performance.

"Henry Pyrgos gets the opportunity to captain the side and after performing well for Scotland in the summer we're looking forward to seeing him back in a Warriors shirt.

"London Scottish finished fifth in a very competitive English Championship so we are under no illusions that we will have to play well to deliver a winning performance."

London Scottish Director of Rugby, Mike Friday added: "The boys are feeling good. We are building towards the Rotherham Titans game, our opening league fixture, but nonetheless Saturday is going to be a great event playing last season's PRO12 finalists.

"Glasgow Warriors are a strong, competent team who will certainly challenge us.

"But it's a challenge we are up for."