Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith knows his side have a target on their backs following their stellar campaign last time out.

Having reaching the URC quarter-finals, Smith is fully aware that this season will only be more challenging.

"The players are excited," he said ahead of today's game. "I think they’ve had enough of the pre-season work and hard work that was needed to be done to get us in line with the challenge ahead.

"Everybody is looking forward to a home start. I think it’s the first time in a long time that we’ve actually started the competitions at home, so the boys are brimming.

"All of these challenges are going to be tough this season. We’re not a surprise to anyone anymore. I think everybody knows it’s tough to come and play at Scotstoun and they will come with a specific approach and specific plan to come and beat us here.

"We play three of the four semi-finalists in the first rounds, so they will be up for it and looking for a good start as well, so it’s an important period for us."

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Scott Penny leads Leinster in a competitive match for the first time, as head coach Leo Cullen also hands a first start to young prop Jack Boyle.

Ireland international Jordan Larmour starts on the wing, while the experienced Luke McGrath is tasked with controlling proceedings from scrum-half.

There could also be debuts for Paddy McCarthy and Rory McGuire off the bench.

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith is able to call upon several Scotland internationals for the URC season opener.

Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, captain Kyle Steyn and Huw Jones were all in France for Scotland's ill-fated World Cup campaign, but are straight into the thick of it for the Warriors.

Greg Peterson makes his first appearance since resigning for the club on a short-term deal, while Henco Venter makes his club debut at number eight.

George Horne is set to make his 100th Glasgow appearance off the bench.

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Glasgow XV: McKay, Cancelliere, Jones, McDowall, Steyn (capt), Jordan, Dobie; Kebble, Fraser, Z Fagerson, Peterson, Cummings, Brown, Darge, Venter.

Replacements: Matthews, McBeth, Sordoni, Samuel, Miller, Gordon, Horne, Weir.

Leinster XV: Frawley, O'Brien, Turner, Ngatai, Larmour, Byrne, McGrath; Boyle, McKee, Clarkson, Molony, Jenkins, Deegan, Penny (capt), Culhane.

Replacements: Barron, P. McCarthy, McGuire, Deeny, Ruddock, Foley, Prendergast, Connors.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of this afternoon's URC clash between Glasgow Warriors and Leinster at Scotstoun.

It's a tough start to the season for both sides, but it should be an absolute belter.

Kick-off is half an hour away, so let's get cracking.

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