Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend has named Hugh Blake at centre for tonight’s PRO12 clash with Munster in his first competitive start for the club.

Townsend saw enough in Blake’s performances in recent run-outs at centre to persuade him that the flanker has the attributes to perform there.

He said: “He’s played there the last two games - against Connacht, when he was covering centre and had to go there a little earlier than we planned, and when we played the British Army in a friendly last week he played half an hour there - so it was always an possibility if we picked up injuries in the back-line, which we have with Peter Murchie and Glenn Bryce out.

“Sam Johnson, who has been out injured after a shoulder operation, still needs a little bit of rehab work but we expect him to be fit for our next game.

“Hugh is a very good rugby player, he’s a good ball player. Obviously his preferred position is flanker, but he showed when he played sevens for Scotland at the end of the season that he could handle himself in wide channels and make good decisions on the ball.

“We realise that with the backs that are unavailable to us just now, that we have to look at innovative ways to get our best players on the field.

“He’s working hard to make sure he does a good job at 13.”

Tight-head prop D’Arcy Rae will also make his first competitive start for the Warriors, with the captaincy going to Rob Harley.

Inevitably, thoughts prior to the match will turn towards last season’s PRO12 final, when Townsend's side famously defeated tonight’s opponents 31-13.

He is under no illusions though that this encounter will be an altogether different affair.

“We know this is going to be a very difficult game,” he said.

“We were delighted to be able to manage to beat Connacht, and we were very pleased with a lot of aspects of our play.

“We’ll have to be accurate in attack for 80 minutes, we’ll have to defend very well, and we’ll have to be really physical whenever we get the opportunity.

“Munster are a strong team, very physical, and they pride themselves on getting the set-piece spot on and taking the game to the opposition and it’s a great challenge for us over at Thomond Park.

“We believe we’re more than up to the challenge on Friday night.”