Ali Price reckons the Murrayfield atmosphere was a major factor in helping Scotland regain their highest ever place in the world rankings, but the international scrum-half is just as excited about returning to Scotstoun this weekend.

The national team returned to fifth in the official world rankings yesterday partly as a result of Wales’ defeat of South Africa at the weekend, but also because of the way they performed in beating Samoa and thrashing Australia, either side of losing narrowly to New Zealand’s All Blacks.

“All three were brilliant,” said Price.

“That we sold them all out was special. The New Zealand game was special because of Doddie (Weir). The kick off for that game was emotionally charged.

“You could feel the buzz around the place. Against Australia when your team gets on a roll is pretty special.”

However he is part of a large contingent of international players now returning to a Glasgow side that has to raise its game from the Pro14, where they remain unbeaten, to the European Champions Cup, where they have lost both matches so far.

That makes the forthcoming double-header with former Scotland coach Vern Cotter’s Montpellier make-or-break, but Price – who signed a new two year deal to stay at the club last week - reckons Glasgow have been handed a huge advantage in having the first of those matches at home.

“Scotstoun for me is an equally good place to play,” he said.

“I love it when the crowd gets behind us at Scotstoun and like I say, everyone at the club is playing with confidence, whether with internationally or in the league, everyone’s got confidence and hopefully we’ll have the crowd behind us, I’m sure we will. It does help, it’ll make a big difference.”

That was just one of several factors that have persuaded him to extend his time at the club having signed a new two year deal last week.

“There are lots of things,” said the English-born 24-year-old.

“The supporters, I love the city, the coaching staff… Dave (Rennie, their head coach) is brilliant.

“The fact that we’re still in Scotland and I aspire to continue to develop with the national team as well. That’s a big goal of mine. There’s loads of reasons as to why I wanted to stay.

“There was a bit of interest (from elsewhere), but Glasgow knew, I knew I wanted to stay.”

The team has continued to score freely in their absence, but the return of a posse of international but Stuart Hogg will not be involved, assistant coach Kenny Murray indicating yesterday that his hip problem could rule him out for another few weeks.

Also ruled out for the first of these meetings is Fraser Brown as his return is carefully managed after he suffered the latest in a string of head injuries during the win over Australia.

That was contributing to what was looking like a worrying situation after Rennie indicated at the weekend that youngster James Malcolm was the only fully fit hooker in the squad.

However, there was better news yesterday of Pat McArthur with Murray confirming that he has got through the first stage of the ‘return to play’ protocols after suffering a head knock against the Ospreys last month, while George Turner is also recovering well from the neck injury he suffered against Cardiff at the weekend.

"After the knock to George and Pat coming off we were under a bit of pressure, but at the moment all three of them are on track to potentially be fit,” said Murray.