Warriors stars have got that Champions feeling

The Scotstoun club host Bath in their first-ever tie today in the new European Rugby Champions Cup, which officially kicks off this weekend.

Progression from Pool Four is a tough ask for the Scots, who will also be going up against the Aviva Premiership giants Montpellier and Toulouse.

However, Townsend's team begin their Champions Cup campaign on the back of a rich vein of form which sees them sitting second in the Guinness Pro12 after six games.

And, with 7000 passionate home fans cheering them on against Bath, the Glasgow head coach insists it's pure anticipation rather than fear which is pulsating through his dressing room.

He said: "There has been a heightened level of excitement and anticipation around the club this week as we get closer to the start of our new European Rugby Champions Cup campaign.

"It's great that we're able to start this season's European campaign with a home game and we're expecting a bumper crowd at Scotstoun [less than 300 briefs were left yesterday].

"Bath are one of the form teams in England and seem to be full of confidence. We are in a quality group alongside three of the leading sides in European club rugby.

"I imagine that every team in our pool has the aim of progressing to the knockout stages and it should make for some fascinating contests. We can't wait for it to all get going."

Stuart Hogg comes in at full-back, Sean Maitland moves to the right wing and Tommy Seymour is on the opposite side.

Mark Bennett and Peter Horne remain at centre, Duncan Weir comes in for Finn Russell at fly-half and Henry Pyrgos stays at scrum-half.

Gordon Reid and Euan Murray are retained at loose-head and tight-head respectively, while Pat MacArthur is in for Fraser Brown at hooker.

Jonny Gray replaces Tim Swinson, and his partner in the engine room is Fijian Leone Nakarawa.

Adam Ashe come in for Josh Strauss at No. 8 and he'll combine with Rob Harley and Chris Fusaro.