GLASGOW coach Gregor Townsend is sure his team have been given the perfect chance to get off to a flying start in the PRO12 - by playing the team that beat them in last year’s semi-final.

In fact Connacht, who went on to win the final against Leinster at Murrayfield, beat the Warriors in the last game of the regular league season as well as in the semi two weeks later. So as far as Townsend is concerned today’s game is the ideal opportunity for his players to prove that they mean this business this time round.

“I am sure that will provide motivation for the players involved,” he said before setting off with the squad for the west of Ireland. “Our last two opponents were Connacht, so we know what to expect and what worked for us last time - and what we need to get better.

“But there are slight unknowns in that it is the first game of the season and Connacht only played one pre-season game, and had a closed-doors training session with Sale. Maybe they’ll come with a different playing style. We'll just have to adapt to that.

“In terms of motivation you start with the champions. Great challenge. You start at the place you lost twice, so we'll be up for it.”

The Warriors had prop Sila Puafisi sent off in the league game, and losing that meant they had to go back to Galway for the semi. Then in the opening minutes of that game they lost Finn Russell to a head injury - the stand-off is back in training now and should be cleared to play again soon.

“We didn't deserve to win,” Townsend said of that semi, which ended his team’s hopes of retaining the title they won in 2014. “We didn't play anywhere near our potential.

“We didn't adapt to the circumstances that happened early on in the game. There were parts of our play, especially after half-time, when we looked dangerous and we scored a good try - but they were the better team on the day.”

It was Connacht who got off to a flying start last season, and Townsend is convinced that the Irish province will begin this season with their self-confidence very high as a result of winning the title for the first time. “I think they’ll be full of confidence. We don't think they’re going to change much - why would they when it’s won them a PRO12?”

Hooker Pat MacArthur agreed with his coach that this afternoon’s match is a tough start - but a great chance for Glasgow to show how big a threat they are going to be this season. “What a challenge first up against the team which won the title,” he said. “This is what we’ve been waiting for all summer. It’s a huge challenge. We were disappointed last year, so this is a chance for us to kick on and put down a marker for the season.

“Losing the title last year has reignited the hunger in the squad. We’ve lost that thing we had worked so hard for. That hurt badly and we’re desperate to get back on track.”

Glasgow Warriors (v Connacht at The Sportsground, Galway, today. Kick-off 5.15pm. Live on Sky Sports 1): S Hogg; L Sarto, A Dunbar, S Johnson, T Seymour; P Horne, H Pyrgos; G Reid, P MacArthur, Z Fagerson, T Swinson, J Gray, R Harley, S Favaro, R Wilson. Substitutes: C Flynn, R Grant, S Puafisi, T Uanivi, L Wynne, A Price, R Clegg, S Lamont.