LEONE NAKARAWA is determined to cap an impressive debut season for Glasgow with a Pro12 championship winner's medal.

The Fijian international has become an increasingly important second-row presence for the men-in-black as they have charged towards a first ever Pro12 Final against defending champions Leinster.

The 26-year-old put in a momentous shift in the historic home semi-final success over Munster that paved the way for the march on Dublin and was nominated for the Warriors' Player of the Year award.

As he looked forward to Saturday's date with destiny Nakarawa said: "It has been an unbelievable first season for me at Glasgow and one I will never forget.

"But having played in the semi-final win over Munster I am just desperate to take part in the final.

"To play against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday night would be a dream for me and hopefully one that can end with Glasgow winning their first ever league championship.

"If someone had said to me when I first arrived in Glasgow that I would have a chance to play in the Pro12 final at the end of the season, I would not have believed them.

"But it is not about going to Leinster just to take part, we are going to win."

The giant lock, who can also play in the back-row, joined the Scotstoun side from the Fiji Barbarians rugby club and is hoping to lock horns on Saturday with an old adversary he first met on national service.

Nakarawa said: "I first played Leo Cullen (Leinster captain) in my second Test for Fiji when we played Ireland and he is a player I have huge respect for.

"You learn from playing against men like Cullen. He is so distinctive with his white hair and of course everyone knows him as the Polar Bear.

"Whoever is in our second-row will have a big battle to get the better of him at line-out. I just hope that I get that opportunity.

"What you have to do with people like Cullen and Paul O'Connell (Munster captain) is remember that they are only human like you.

"But I feel like I have learned so much from playing against people like O'Connell and Cullen and, of course, from playing alongside Al Kellock.

"It would mean the world for me to play against Leinster in the final and I pray I will get that opportunity."

Meanwhile, Nakarawa, along with fellow Fijian Warriors Niko Matawalu and Jerry Yanuyanutawa, has been included in the Fiji squad that will play four Test matches next month.

The 6ft 6in second row admits it will provide a draining end to the season for him.

Nakarawa said: "It will be a tough end to the season and, especially after the Pro12 final, with all the travel involved there will not be much time to recover.

"But I am very proud to play for Fiji and it is great that I have.

"It would be great to be going into these games having helped Glasgow win their first ever Pro12 championship."