Toony's troops flew out for Southern France yesterday, where a four-day training camp will culminate in a clash with Heineken Cup group rivals Castres in Lacaune on Friday night.
Next up will be a trip to Manchester and a meeting with Sale Sharks at Haywood Road, on Saturday, August 18, before Warriors host more English Premiership opposition in the shape of Exeter Chiefs at Millbrae, home of Ayr RFC, on Thursday, August 23.
Toony has no doubt the trip across the channel will apply a healthy gloss of French polish to his plans for his first-ever season in charge of Glasgow.
He said: "There are a lot of benefits from going away on training camps not least because they bond the players really well. I have been really pleased with the way the pre-season has progressed, but camp will help us take things up a notch.
"We have the game with Castres on Friday night – they are one of my former clubs – and although it will be more of a training encounter, it will allow us to work on key parts of our game like our set-piece."
Warriors' latest recruit, Fijian international scrum-half Nikola Matawalu, will miss out on the French connection as he is not set to join up until next week' but Townsend has revealed that another new recruit, Canadian international winger Taylor Paris, will feature against the French.
The Glasgow head coach said: "Taylor has impressed me and he will get meaningful game time on Friday night. For a young man of only 19 years of age' he has an impressive maturity about him."
Meanwhile, Warriors will open their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign against Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday, August 31, before their first-ever fixture at Scotstoun against Scarlets on Friday, September 7.
