Warriors are in Tier 3 of the four tiered draw and are likely to face some of the biggest names in European rugby when the names are drawn at lunch time in Dublin.

Although Glasgow have yet to make it into the knockout stages of European rugby's top tournament, the new Warriors head coach says the tougher the draw the better.

Townsend said: "I am looking forward to the draw and to hopefully catching some of the biggest names.

"When I look at how well Glasgow did last season, beating Montpellier and Bath at Firhill, and pushed the European champions Leinster all the way, I believe we can kick on from that.

"We could be facing Leinster again or the French giants Toulouse from the top tier.

"Then you look at the second tier and the likes of Toulon, the biggest spending club in Europe and the English sides Harlequins and Leicester.

"You can see how tough it will be, but it's the type of exciting company we could be keeping.

"Even from Tier four you have my old club Castres and Exeter, who have just come off the back of a great season in the English Premiership.

"The bottom line is there will be no easy draws.

"It would be great to have some of the biggest names in European rugby coming to Scotstoun in our first season at the ground."

There is no doubting Townsend's fierce determination to be the first head coach to lead Glasgow out of the group stages.

He said: "I said when I arrived at Glasgow I made my target to challenge for silverware and, hopefully, win something next season.

"The minimum we are looking for is improve on how we did last time around.

"That a second placed pool finish in a tough group including Leinster and we were very unfortunate to at least not get a place in the Amlin Cup.

"We have young players who have learned from last season and new players who are coming in and will make us stronger.

"So we have to do everything we can to make it out of the group stages for the first time."