New look, new season and plenty of optimism from Glasgow and Sean Lineen

LEINSTER were yesterday boosted by the addition of three internationals to their squad travelling to Glasgow, but with both sides missing a host of top names the opening Magners League match remains a great opportunity for the Scots to start another season with a win over top-class Irish opposition.

Last term, it was Munster who were the first visitors to Firhill and, in front of more than 3,600 supporters, their shadow side came unstuck as the Warriors claimed a 22-9 win.

Then, Glasgow had their Test half-backs Dan Parks and Chris Cusiter in harness, skipper Al Kellock and the back row of Johnnie Beattie, John Barclay and Kelly Brown all available in what was a healthy time for Sean Lineen's squad.

It is quite different this time around and that sextet will not be on the field tomorrow night. In fact, only backs Bernie Stortoni and Graeme Morrison and forwards Jon Welsh and Moray Low survive from that XV, which underlines both the injury problems and the summer turnaround of staff at Glasgow, and will also be viewed by a young Leinster squad, bolstered by the inclusion yesterday of John Fogarty, Shane Horgan and Jamie Heaslip - the team will be named today - as something from which to draw heart.

Still, Lineen believes his squad is more prepared for this season than any in the past, largely because of the move from the nomadic existence around five training venues to one at Scotstoun, which the coach believes has allowed for more sessions, greater individual work and increasing intensity in training.

"I'm not going to sit back and say 'oh woe is me'," he said, when asked about the injury list. "I feel sorry for the players that are out injured, having seen their frustration, but I've got a bunch of players that are doing incredibly well and that I'm extremely excited about.

"This is the best pre-season I've had as a head coach in terms of what we've got out of the players and the squad is tight. There is a lot of energy there and the guys want to do well.We have created a bit of momentum in the last couple of years and this group of players wants to continue that."

Ruaridh Jackson has won the nod for the opening game over Duncan Weir at stand-off, his still fledgling experience of the pro game enough to give him the edge, with Weir experiencing the reality of just how big a step-up it is from club to pro rugby in his pre-season start at Wasps.

Lineen acknowledged that scrum-half Henry Pyrgos was being thrown in at the deep end with Cusiter and Colin Gregor both unavailable due to injury, but insisted that he was one of several new signings that had hugely impressed the coaching staff in training and in the pre-season games, and provided new heart for the opening games.

Similarly, in the second row loan signing Tom Ryder has been preferred to Aly Muldowney, as Ryder's experience with Saracens has ensured he is closer to a starting pro than Muldowney, who is still getting to grips with the move from Moseley, and his leadership is crucial in a pack with an average age under 24.

"I've been really encouraged by the players that have come in," said Lineen. "Ryan Wilson (blindside flanker] is another. He had opportunities to go to other clubs, but he came here and has worked hard in the gym and is an aggressive sort that you need.

"He was really disappointed not to start against Wasps and showed that when he came on. He's an ambitious youngster with an edge to him, which I like, because that's the kind of guy we need against an aggressive Leinster pack. Tom (Ryder] has come in and led from the front as well; he's ambitious as well and I've been impressed with his attitude. He adds a bit of bulk and nous.

"But being at Scotstoun has allowed us to spend a lot of time moulding these players into a team and it has tested us as coaches in how to push the guys on.

"We've seen some outstanding stuff at times in the pre-season games which we'll take a lot from, and I'm really looking forward to the start."

One area that was highlighted as a concern in the defeat to Wasps was the scrum, but Lineen pointed to the late withdrawal of Kevin Tkachuk through injury, it being Jon Welsh's first match back, against a pack featuring five British and Irish Lions, and insisted he was confident the pack would scrummage well against Leinster tomorrow night.

Leinster may be shorn of around 12 test stars, but they have enviable strength in depth and do believe they have enough to beat Glasgow tomorrow night. It is a big test for the new-look Glasgow side, however if they are to repeat their third place finish it is just the kind that they must overcome.