International trio return to aid Glasgow play-off bid

Morrison and Barclay suffered injuries in the recent win over Cardiff but van der Merwe has not played for the Warriors this season after returning from the World Cup with a shoulder injury that required an operation. His star had risen further in New Zealand where he was one of the stand-out performers for the Canadian side.

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen accepted then that he may not see the winger in action this term, but was delighted yesterday to confirm that he will travel to Italy with the squad today and is likely to be handed a bench spot.

“I’m excited that all three of them are back,” said Lineen. “These guys have been fantastic and have worked very hard for us throughout the season.

“DTH has worked incredibly hard to get back and you have to look at getting your best players back, and in one sense it would be a shame for him to work so hard to get back and then not involve him.

“We’re a top-four team, though we didn’t play like it last week [at Munster] and we have to understand that and front up this weekend. If we are truly ambitious about being in the play-offs, and I want us to be there, then come the play-offs we need to have our best players so there are decisions that need to be made. He’s a quality player and we’ve tested him pretty vigorously in training. He’s a bit rusty but we’re looking at him being involved in the 23.”

The team will be named today but it seems likely that Morrison and potentially Barclay will start with Duncan Weir also replacing Ruaridh Jackson at stand-off. The two sides chasing Glasgow for a top-four slot, Ulster and Scarlets, are at home to Leinster and Munster tonight and tomorrow night respectively, and a win or draw for either could move them above the fourth-placed Warriors before the game in Italy. Glasgow’s final match is at home to Connacht in a fortnight.

“This is a massive challenge,” said Lineen. “Treviso were the last team to beat us at Firhill in the league and we have huge respect for them. They are very experienced and really challenge you in the way they play. They have the Italian nine and ten, an outstanding back row and fantastic ball-carriers. Their lineout is right up there and their defensive work is brutal.

“Against Munster we backed off a bit which was unusual and our defence, which is usually our strength, was a weakness, and one player in particular – Stuart Hogg – took the game by the scruff of the neck and got us what could prove to be a crucial bonus point. The guys have reflected on that and we know what we have to do, which is go across there and win.

“It’s a bit like Italy-Scotland again,” he added. “We have to take the game to them.

“We know it’s going to be incredibly tough but the focus is on nothing else but winning this game. It doesn’t matter what happens with other results this weekend – we have to win.”