GLASGOW WARRIORS' former stonemason has been solid as a rock this season.

And Finn Russell hopes he can now chip away at the pain of last year's PRO12 final defeat and complete a dream campaign.

It is hard to think that the man who has now been capped by his country was virtually unknown at the beginning of the last season at Scotstoun.

Only gaining his first start in November 2013, it did not take the fly-half from Stirling long to impress Gregor Townsend enough to earn his first full-time contract in the sport.

It meant turning his back on his career as an apprentice craftsman, a decision which is now paying dividends for the 22-year-old.

A regular face in the Warriors line-up this campaign, Russell was the hero of the hour last week as his last-gasp conversion sealed Glasgow's place in tomorrow's GUINNESS PRO12 final against Munster in Belfast.

"When I got my contract last season it felt brilliant to have that security and to build at Glasgow," Russell told SportTimes.

"To have another season from last year and having done so well as a team it's great to know I'm here for another year. A couple of the boys here have been here for a while so we are starting to gel really well, it's a good team to be in."

He added: "I'm still getting used to it. I was talking to someone not so long ago that just over a year ago I played my last game for Ayr and now, well, it's slightly different!

"The Summer tour last year, the Autumn Tests and the Six Nations is also new to me as well, to have the opportunity to maybe go to the World Cup this year is amazing and will take time to sink in as well.

"I was an apprentice stonemason before I went into rugby so I'd probably be doing that and playing rugby for Falkirk for a bit of fun.

"It was good, but not quite as good as this."

Not half, and this weekend it could get even better.

Three hundred and sixty four days on from last year's PRO12 final, the pain and anguish of losing that day to Leinster will still be fresh in the mind of Russell when he pulls on a Glasgow shirt tomorrow.

Having put Warriors into an early lead with his boot, the Irish club would eventually prove too strong and run away with a convincing 34-12 win.

It is a disappointment which still drives him and his team-mates on.

"It still hurts but it is one of these things that I remember we just went on to the next thing and you have to try and put it behind you," said Russell.

"But yeah, it is still sitting there at the back of my mind of what it felt like last year.

"It's not good that it happened, but we now know what it's like to go there, get to that stage and to be beaten.

"We are stronger for it. A lot of the players who played in it last year will be playing in it again this year so I think we will have that experience of not just playing in it but knowing how painful it is to lose hopefully if we go on and win the tournament."

Recording back-to-back victories over Ulster, along with only losing one of their last six games, is testament to a Warriors side who have found their groove of late.

"Throughout the whole year everyone is obviously wanting to win games, but at the business end of the season getting victories are a lot more crucial," added Russell.

"This season has been great for us and we've won a lot of games."

One more and this stonemason can carve his own name into Glasgow's history books.