Townsend wants Glasgow to repeat Leicester win form with victory over Saracens
Gregor Townsend has already seen his Glasgow side face up to one date with destiny - now he wants to see a repeat against Saracens.
Gregor Townsend has already seen his Glasgow side face up to one date with destiny - now he wants to see a repeat against Saracens.
Warriors take on the reigning Champions Cup holders in what is their first ever quarter-final outing on Sunday.
But the Scotstoun head coach reckons his men have already proved they have the mettle for the big occasion after smashing Leicester in front of their own fans.
Glasgow ran up an incredible 43-0 triumph at Welfrod Road back in January to book their place in the last eight.
Townsend reckons that win has now convinced his side they can compete with anyone - but he wants them to win over any remaining doubters by doing the double on the English champions.
He said: "That Leicester win got us the reward we have been working towards for the last few years which was to get out of the pool.
"It has now set us up for a huge match, playing the European champions.
"Specifically it gave the players a lot of belief going into the Six Nations and this game too. It told them they can deliver when there is a big challenge ahead of them.
"We were up against a team who had only lost one European game at home in the last 10 years. We appreciate Leicester may not be playing at the same level as Sarries this year so Sunday will be a tougher challenge.
"But at Welford Road we took control of our own destiny by what we did with the ball and how hard we worked in defence. We'll need that again this weekend."
Warriors will kick off with a starting XV boasting 14 full Scotland internationals and Townsend hopes his Dark Blues contingent can carry on from where they left off during this year's RBS 6 Nations.
The tournament saw Vern Cotter's team finish joint second after recording three wins for the first time in 11 years.
"Yeah, it helps," admitted the Glasgow coach. "It means they are full of confidence. The combinations that they carried on with Scotland, whether that be Stuart Hogg running lines with Tommy Seymour or Finn Russell working with Ali Price or Henry Pyrgos, that all helps us.
"So the players have been away but they have been playing together and have come back realising that this is our biggest game of the season. They can't wait to play."