JOSH STRAUSS is out to give Glasgow Warriors a hat-trick - and bag them a home semi-final slot in the process.

The Warriors are in action in Wales tonight where only the Ospreys stand between them and a Scotstoun fixture in the all-important play-offs.

It is the GUINNESS PRO 12 leaders' penultimate game of the normal campaign with the top two sides getting home advantage in the post-season knockout competition.

Going into the crunch match, Gregor Townsend's men have won their last two games on the spin to leave them within touching distance of achieving one of their initial pre-season targets.

And despite having not won three games on the spin since in all competitions since October, South African Strauss reckons tonight is the night to do just that and get over the line.

He said: "You don't know at the beginning of the season but with the way the table has worked out it's a great end to it for us. It's also a great test but I don't think we'd have wanted to win it any other way.

"You don't want to play matches when you are winning easily then have to then go into a tough semi-final. They are two of the toughest teams and we want to keep our momentum going into the play-offs.

"I think there is a play-off mindset already. In the last few weeks the chat has been about playoff time. You want to build. We have a lot of guys who have played this season and it's about the best combination going into this."

He added: "We have had a good record against them in the past few seasons and we just want to replicate what we have done before by being really aggressive and being in their faces. Hopefully we will win the game if we do that."

Townsend has named flanker Ryan Wilson in his squad for the first time in over three months after he was suspended due to being convicted of assault back in January.

He takes his place on the bench while stand-off Duncan Weir returns to the team following an injury-ravaged spell since December.

The Scotland international has made just two appearances from the bench since then due to a bicep problem, and he replaces Finn Russell at No.10 as the only back line change.

"We're well aware of the importance of tonight's game and what it means to everyone associated with the club," said the head coach.

"Securing our place in the play-offs is a massive achievement, but we're now playing for home advantage and we know these next two games are crucial to achieving that outcome.

"Ospreys are only four points behind and they too are playing for a home play-off, so we're expecting an extremely tough game at the Liberty Stadium.

"They have played at a consistently high level throughout the season and have a good balance in their play - a strong, aggressive defence allied to an excellent attacking game.

"We will need to put in one of our best performances of the season to come away with a positive result."

Meanwhile, Warriors have announced scrum-half Murray McConnell will leave Glasgow in the summer to join English Championship side Nottingham.

Townsend added: "I'd like to thank Murray for all his efforts while he's been at the Warriors and we wish him all the best down at Nottingham."