Glasgow kingpin Al Kellock wants his Warriors players to give everything to the cause over the next few weeks because he wants to end his legendary career on a high.

The 33-year-old talisman has announced his retirement after nine years as captain of the team.

Kellock played an astonishing total of 154 games for the club - but he wants to play a few more before he hangs up his boots for good at the season's end.

And with Glasgow Warriors sitting proudly at the top of the Guinness PRO12 table at the moment, he reckons he can go out with silverware.

"I'll be pushing as hard as I possibly can to be involved," said the 56-times-capped lock.

"I will be doing everything I possibly can, on and off the park, to be as good as I can be and we will take it from there.

"All the players are thinking the same way. We've come close in the past but now we want to get the trophy."

The Warriors have made it through to the PRO12 play-offs in four of the past five seasons and, with four games left, they look set to do that once more.

But after losing last year's final to Leinster, Kellock is still hungry for success.

"Losing that game was gutting," said the man who also led Scotland in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

"But my journey with Glasgow has lasted nine years and where we have come from in that time is incredible.

"If we had won a title for five years ago it could potentially have been a flash in the pan.

"But what we've done is build up consistency, and hopefully sustainable consistency, so that we are in the mix regularly now.

"Leinster lost semi-finals and finals before they made the breakthrough. It works that way for most teams.

"With this being my last season, it would be huge if we could do it now."

Kellock admitted that the decision to finish his career was a hard one, but he reckons it's also the right one.

"It's a decision I'm comfortable with because I know I'm ready to go," he said, "but is not a decision I ever wanted to take.

"In a way, I feel like I'm doing something that I don't want to do, but I know this is right for me.

"I knew that after 51 minutes of our game against Leinster last weekend when Jonny Gray came off the bench!

"You see a guy like that come on and you know that it's time.

"I think this is the right time for me to finish, physically and probably mentally as well.

"I could have gone elsewhere and played, but I didn't really want to do that.

"To be able to retire after the season we are having, but when I still feel I'm playing well, is great."

Kellock is to move into an ambassadorial role for the Warriors, although he is likely to combine that job with mentoring younger players.

Recognised as one of the best leaders Scottish rugby has ever produced, his departure will leave many fans wondering who will lead the team next season.

Josh Strauss and Gray are both in the frame, although both could also be absent during the early weeks of the season because of World Cup commitments.

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend paid tribute to the service Kellock has given the club.

"Al has put his body on the line a lot during his nine years," said Townsend.

"He's still competing very hard with the other second rows to be selected ahead of them.

"He will leave an excellent legacy for the future of the club to continue to grow."