PETER Horne has targeted a home win over Ulster in his first Glasgow Warriors start in nearly a year.

Horne has been given the nod to kick-off the Rabo Direct Pro12 game at Scotstoun by coach Gregor Townsend.

And the centre, who suffered knee ligament damage playing for Scotland last June, is determined to mark his comeback with a win.

Warriors have triumphed in their last four league games -including against Munster in Limerick last weekend.

And the 24-year-old back knows he has to make this appearance count if he is to be involved in the remaining matches of the campaign.

A victory against Ulster - currently sitting second to Leinster in the league - would boost Glasgow's chances of securing a play-off position.

Glasgow are in fourth place, three points behind Munster and five adrift of Ulster but with a game in had on both.

Horne said: "I am desperate to get back on the field. I did my anterior cruciate ligament on the summer tour of South Africa and this is just my third game back and my first start.

"It has been tough being out, especially as the boys have been doing well and getting good results. There has been a real buzz about the club and about training. It has been tough to be sidelined.

"But I have worked really hard to get back to this point and getting back into the side makes it all worthwhile."

Horne added: "In the past couple of weeks I have got on towards the end of the game. I have been building along nicely.

"I feel as if I am ready to start a game and make a real positive impact for the team.

"I couldn't have asked for a better time to come back into things. It is the business end of the season and big games are coming thick and fast. But we have got the momentum building nicely and all of the lads are training really hard to be a part of things. I will have to do well to keep my place."

Glasgow have triumphed over Scarlets, Ospreys, Treviso and Munster in recent weeks but Horne knows a win against the Belfast-based side will not be easy.

He said: "Ulster are one of the toughest teams in the league and we will have to show them a lot of respect.

"We will certainly not take them lightly. They have been one of the best teams in the league for a couple of years now.

"They were superb in their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens. They were one man down yet nearly came through to win it.

"They have tremendous runners in the backs and some big ball-carrying forwards.

"But our confidence is high at the moment. We have had a tough week in training. There has been no let up."