Franco Smith challenges Glasgow to subdue Scarlets and silence home crowd

Franco Smith has challenged in-form Glasgow to subdue the home support as they bid to pull off an away win over Scarlets and reach the final of the Challenge Cup.

The Warriors, who have lost only one of their last 17 matches in all competitions, head to Parc y Scarlets as slight favourites to eliminate their United Rugby Championship rivals in their first-ever European semi-final on Saturday evening.

Fourth-placed Glasgow finished 10 places above Scarlets in the regulation URC season and defeated them 12-9 at Scotstoun in a hard-fought league match a fortnight ago, but head coach Smith is wary of the galvanising effect home advantage could have on the Welsh side.

“The Scarlets will be favouring their chances to go all the way in front of their home supporters,” he told the Warriors website.

“We as a team know this, and therefore it presents an opportunity to take on this challenge that will ask the very best of us.

“We have prepared well this week for what we know will be a hard battle in front of a big Welsh crowd.”

Argentinian winger Sebastian Cancelliere returns from injury to take his place in a Glasgow XV loaded with Scotland internationals, including Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn, Zander Fagerson and George Turner.

Veteran lock Richie Gray will make his 100th appearance for the club, while George Horne gets the nod over Ali Price to start at scrum-half.