Mark McMillan's experience can be helpful, insists Sean Lineen

GLASGOW coach Sean Lineen has turned to former European Cup winner Mark McMillan to help inspire his side against the Ospreys in Swansea tonight.

While Max Evans and John Barclay return to lift the squad, the loss of Chris Cusiter, after the Scotland scrum-half failed to recover from a knee injury suffered in the win over the Scarlets last week, and the versatile Colin Gregor, also injured, is a real blow. It would have been worse, however, had Lineen not still been able to call on McMillan to fill the breach.

McMillan, who turns 27 next week, will return to the Guinness Premiership with Bath this summer, and it is his experience with Wasps, where he was part of the squad that won the Premiership and Heineken Cup titles, that the coach believes could be crucial tonight.

"It just shows the strength in depth of the squad we have got now," Lineen said. "Cus (Cusiter] hasn't managed to pull through but what a replacement we've got in Mark McMillan. He's been a fantastic player for us all season.

"Sure, it would be a problem if we lost him early in the game, but I think any team is going to face that risk if they've already lost two scrum-halves. We've lost Chris and Colin Gregor, so it's pretty special to have someone with Mark's experience on hand. He's a great player with a great attitude and he's done a good job all season."

It means that Glasgow travel without a replacement scrum-half on the bench, but Lineen added that Max Evans, a scrum-half as a teenager, would slot in if anything happened to McMillan.

Meanwhile, the late decision by BBC Alba to screen tonight's game live will give grateful supporters the opportunity to watch the game north of the Border.

The inaugural semi-final will be available live on the Gaelic language channel and also on seven-day catch-up via BBC iPlayer as well as the full match coverage being repeated on BBC Alba tomorrow at 11.30pm.

BBC Alba has promised it will bring viewers an exciting package of half-time entertainment including exclusive interviews with Kelly Brown and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson, as well as a review of the Scottish rugby season covering the Autumn Tests and a round-up of the Warriors' journey to the semi-final.

Glasgow Warriors chief executive, Kenny Baillie, said: "It's great news for all Warriors fans and for rugby in Scotland that more broadcasters are beginning to take a real interest in the game."