PETER WRIGHT has warned Glasgow that their season will have been a failure if they are unable to nail down a Pro12 play-off spot.

Warriors face a must-win visit from fourth-placed Ospreys at Scotstoun on Friday night knowing that victory could take them level with the Welshmen, but still holding a two-game advantage.

With five of their last seven games at home, the fixture card has been kind to the Scotstoun men just when it matters most.

All of which has led the former Scotland hooker to claim that a failure to make the top four at the end of the regulation season would make it a very disappointing campaign for Gregor Townsend's team.

Wright said: "Fate has been very kind to Glasgow by handing out that kind of advantage and if they don't make the play-offs this season then ultimately you would have to say that it has been a failure.

"The two things that Gregor would have looked for was to make it out of the group stages in the Heineken Cup and to make the Pro12 play-offs as his minimum requirement. So the way the fixtures have panned out it would be very disappointing, almost a disaster, if they don't achieve that."

There is extra importance attached to a minimum top-half finish as it looks likely that a place in the revamped European Rugby Cup, which will be known as European Rugby Champions Cup, will only be available to the top seven clubs in the Pro12.

But with a vital victory secured over the Scarlets at Scotstoun last Saturday, Toony's troops have made a winning start to the final furlong of the season.

Perhaps the most interesting tactical call made by the head coach was that Duncan Weir -although he started in all five of Scotland's RBS Six Nations games - started for Glasgow in preference to Ruaridh Jackson at stand-off.

With his squad almost back to full strength, Wright reckons that his former Scotland team-mate's selection policy could have a pivotal part to play in Glasgow's hopes over the final stretch of the season.

The former British Lion said: "What Gregor will have to decide is whether, within reason, he decides to rotate his squad or go with the strongest 15 week-to-week.

"He made the call to go with Duncan Weir against the Scarlets, so it would seem to me that means he considers Duncan his No.1 stand-off.

"But it was great to see Al Kellock back involved in things after having had four months out injured and I would say that he will have a huge part to play over the closing weeks.

"So, all things considered, we are facing a very exciting run-in and one in which each game Glasgow play becomes the most important of the season in turn.

"It would be great if it was perhaps a little less exciting but basically it is now a three- horse race for the third and fourth spots in the play-offs between Glasgow, Ospreys and Ulster.

"Glasgow have both at home before the end of the season, so Scotstoun must become a fortress in the weeks ahead, starting on Friday night with Ospreys."