TOMMY SEYMOUR believes the experience of narrowly missing out on glory over the past few seasons will stand Glasgow Warriors in good stead over the closing weeks of the Guinness PRO12 season.

Since the introduction of the PRO12 play-offs in season 2009-10, the Warriors have been losing semi-finalists three times and were then beaten in last year's final.

With three regular-season games remaining - away to Connacht and Ospreys and at home to Ulster - Glasgow hold top place in the PRO12 table, and winger Seymour is convinced his team has learned lessons from the disappointments of the past.

"Practice makes perfect," said Seymour. "Ideally you would not play three semi-finals and a final, you would go straight to the final on the first occasion and win it. But we have had experience now of being in the play-offs over the last number of years and those experiences harden you to that environment and make you more aware of what might happen.

"It stands you in good stead and you can drive on from there. That's the important thing, to drive on, otherwise you are in the same position. As long as we can move on and finish in a better position than the year before then we are going the right way."

Seymour was speaking at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, where the final will be played on Saturday, May 30.

The venue has a special resonance for Seymour, for he spent a number of years there - when it was still known as Ravenhill - as an Ulster player. However, he explained that sentiment plays only a small part in his desire to be involved.

"Obviously I would want to be here for the final," said the 17-times capped 26-year-old. "But that would be the same regardless of where it was being held. Yes, there is a bit of enticement there because of where it is, but we've got four more games before that bridge can be crossed."

Five teams are still in running for play-off places: Glasgow, Munster, Ulster, Ospreys and Leinster. Of all the sides, Ulster have the hardest run of games over the next few weeks, but with the prospect of home advantage in the final, they also have the greatest incentive to do well. Ulster have not lost a PRO12 game in their stadium this season.

Seymour said: "Whoever gets to the final is there because they have played the best football. But if Ulster are here then they are bound to be your least favoured opponent.

"If you get any team at their home ground, with a packed stadium, then it is obviously going to give a lot of energy to the home side. If Ulster get to the final they have got to fancy their chances against any team. It would be silly to think otherwise."

Glasgow closed out last season with a remarkable run of eight consecutive victories to clinch their PRO12 play-off place and a first-ever home semi-final. From being the hunters then, they are now the hunted, by virtue of leading the table.

However, Seymour said that factor made no difference to the Warriors players' mindsets.

"You don't think of targets on backs," said Seymour. "Ideally, you want to be in first place because you want people to be looking up at you. But when you get to the last few games everyone is concentrating on their own ambitions of top two or top four, not targeting specific teams.

"So it doesn't feel miles different to last year. We've got a tough run-in. The performances at the tail end of last year were very good when we won eight on the bounce before the semi-final. We've got to make sure we keep those high standards this year and perform well."

There is certainly no room for complacency against the hugely-improved Connacht on Saturday week, as the Galway side, currently sixth in the PRO12 table, are desperate to hold on to that position to secure a place in next season's European Champions Cup.

"They've created a very strong squad down there," said Seymour of Glasgow's next opponents. "They have played consistently well throughout the year and got impressive results. They have been taking strides up the table.

"In the past they have always been difficult to play, but they have galvanised this season. Regardless of where you play them or at what point of the season, they are a quality side and they can put teams away. We have to produce a top performance if we are to go there and get a result.

"I've won there with Glasgow in the past, but it will still be a tough place to go and they have their own ambitions to play for. They'll not be writing anything off at this point of the season.

"We beat them at the start of the year so they will be looking for payback. We have to play very well."