Warriors head for the Stadio Monigo on the back of two successive defeats in the Heineken Cup to Northampton and Ulster which have made qualification for the last eight of the Euro-pean Cup for a first-ever time a long shot.
But despite that the Warriors head coach remained optimistic his side can come back from the brink in Europe's top tournament and has vowed his men will start their recovery process with a win in Italy this weekend.
Townsend said: "We need to re-group and that is vital. We have come up against two outstanding teams in the leading side in England right now in Northampton.
"Then it has been the league leaders in the PRO12 Ulster, who are also the only unbeaten side left in Europe and in my opinion the best team in the tournament right now. That would have been a tough ask for anyone.
"But we have two games now before the break that are massive for our hopes in the Rabo. Treviso are very tough, especially at home, then we finish the first quarter with Dragons coming to Scotstoun on Friday week.
"What we have got to do is learn the lessons we have had to absorb in Europe and put them to best use in the Rabo over the next fortnight.
"It is a frustration that we have been more than competitive against both Northampton and Ulster for the first half only to let things slip after the interval.
"But that is something we have to sort if we want to come back from these disappointments. I still believe this group of players is good enough to win the remaining four fixtures of the Pool Four campaign.
"Fortunately by the time we go into the second phase of the pool games we should have a few back from our injury list. But now all the focus must be on bouncing back with a win in Italy on Saturday night."
Yet again injury caused disruption to Glasgow's hopes in front of a sold-out Scotstoun on Friday night with Byron McGuigan and Peter Horne both helped from the field during the 19-8 defeat by the unbeaten Ulster men.
But perhaps the most damaging injury of the lot was the knee problem sustained by Duncan Weir last month which has robbed Warriors of their first choice stand-off.
All too often Glasgow kicked aimlessly and conceded possession to the PRO12 leaders.
There was a total lack of the type of kicking game with which Dan Parks used to pin the opposition in their own 22 while also keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Townsend will also be concerned about the inability to win line-out ball on Glasgow throws in opposition territory and the muddled decision making that saw over-ambitious attempts at chip-kicks within metres of the Ulster whitewash when what was required was to go through the phases.
But a huge positive in respect of Warriors' Heineken Cup hopes was Castres 21-16 victory over Northampton in France.
Glasgow's next action in the tournament is the home then away double header with the French side starting with a Scotstoun clash, on Friday, December 7.
Toony has no doubt that a win that night could provide the platform to what would be the great escape from the pool sections.
He said: "Next up for us is the double header with Castres and we have home advantage in the first of these which is vital.
"If we can get the win in that one and go to France eight days later and back it up with another victory we will be right back in it. So we are far from dead and buried yet."
