Ruaridh Jackson was Glasgow Warriors’ inspiration when they won on their last visit to Exeter Chiefs and while they face an even harder challenge this weekend he believes they have what it takes to do it again.

The Scotstoun-based side is the only unbeaten top tier team in Europe this season having won all six of its Guinness Pro14 matches.

However visiting the reigning English champions, who are unbeaten in their last 11 home matches, represents a step up in class.

Jackson has spent the last three years playing down south with Wasps and Harlequins and duly noted that much has changed since the teams last met in Europe, but reckons Glasgow have what it takes.

“We have both won championships since then,” he said, referring back to that 2014 win.

“It was a good few years ago, but we had them in the Heineken Cup and we got the wins home and away.

“We know that we can beat them. Their team has probably not changed all that much since then and they have built a good core squad and have moved forward, so we know it is going to be tough.

“They are a confident team that are hard to break down with a good set piece and we have to go down there and front up. Hopefully the forwards will give us a good platform so we can fire some shots and give it our best.

“It doesn’t get much harder down at Sandy Park. They are coming off the back of the championship last year. They are a fit team, a physical team and have a really good squad that has a tightness about them. They are 11 games on the trot at home so it is going to be a really big challenge for us.”

That said the prospect of the trip to the West Country is one that Jackson views with relish rather than trepidation.

“I have played at Sandy Park a few times. I love playing there. It is a good track and the atmosphere is good fun,” said the former international stand off who has been standing in for Stuart Hogg while the Scotland full-back has been recovering from injury,

“The crowd really get into it. Even if it is against you it is good fun. It is loud, there is a bit of wind, it is a bit like here, not too dissimilar. They have a good vocal crowd that helps them out.

“Hopefully we can turn that against them by getting down the right end and quietening their chants down a bit.”

They make the trip having already registered wins in difficult places this season, against Connacht in Galway, in Cardiff and on a first competitive visit to South Africa.

However they still believe there is better to come ahead of a campaign that sees them pitched in the toughest of the tournament’s pools with three time European champions Leinster and ex-Scotland coach Vern Cotter’s in-form Montpellier as well as Exeter.

“Regarding our performances we are pretty critical of ourselves as we set high standards,” said Jackson.

“There have been a few games we have put ourselves under pressure when we did not need to. The fact that we won games not at our best and got some performances of high quality. If we get things right from minute one to eighty we can be in a good position.”