PETER MURCHIE says his recovery from shoulder surgery has been made sweeter by Glasgow's Pro12 play-off push.

Warriors host fourth-placed Ospreys on Friday night at Scotstoun. They trail the Welshmen by four points but have a two-game advantage.

The Glasgow full-back made his first appearance for the Warriors since September against Leinster on March 1 and backed it up with a water-tight performance in the 14-6 defeat of Scarlets at Scotstoun last Saturday.

With Stuart Hogg serving the second of his three-game ban for foul play, Murchie's recovery could not have been more timely.

He said: "One of the things that kept me going throughout my rehab, was the thought that if I could get back early I would be timing it just right for the business end of the season.

"The game with Ospreys is probably the biggest of the season, so far, for us. If we get the win, then we can draw level with them and continue to build our momentum when it matters most going forward to our third home game on the bounce with Treviso.

"To be involved in these games - with so much riding on each one - is fantastic when you have been out for the length of time I have.

"Now I have had the two games behind me I definitely feel that bit sharper.

"When you have been out for seven months, it brings it home to you just how much you miss the game."

In the first meeting between the two sides at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, second-half tries from Chris Cusiter, DTH van der Merwe and Ryan Wilson sealed a 28-16 victory for the Warriors.

Murchie knows another tough shift is in store for at Scotstoun at 7.35pm on Friday.

He said: "Ospreys are big and powerful. They will have their Wales contingent back and available and be thirsting for revenge.

"I really rate their scrum-half Rhys Webb and they will have some very big powerful ball-carriers coming off him.

"At stand-off Dan Biggar is also an exceptional talent, who I am sure, has a big international career ahead of him. In the loose, Justin Tipuric is a great ball-winner, while in their second-row you have Alun Wyn Jones, who captained the British Lions to the Test Series victory over the Wallabies last summer.

"So they are packed full of top-class international talent and across the field we will have to be at our best.

"Whoever is at full-back for us can expect a few high balls to come raining down - that goes with the territory at 15."

Murchie added: "But hopefully we can get a big home crowd out because in these type of games the Glasgow support can make all the difference to us."