Scotstoun's artificial pitch will take time to adapt - Gregor Townsend

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend believes the players will take time to adapt to the newly laid artificial pitch at Scotstoun.

The stadium is set to feature its first competitive game after the renovation when Glasgow Warriors and Leinster lock horns with each other on Saturday's Pro12 clash. The intent of the new surface is to avoid postponement of games due to wet and muddy outfield.

Townsend believes the fast surface at Scotstoun will test the players out from both the teams which might have an impact on the result.

"We have had five sessions this week. The first day was like kids on Christmas Day morning, they were running around excited and a few guys were falling over because they didn't have the right studs on. It was wet that day as well, so there are different conditions on top of the surface that we have to get used to.

"The following day was better and today (Friday), it looked like we were used to it. It will take a number of weeks to really get used to it and know properly, which way the ball will bounce, what it's like in the wet, what it's like in the dry. So we look forward to that, but I'm sure on Saturday there will be some errors from us and the opposition, down to the new surface."

The former Scotland international insisted that the new pitch will suit the Warriors' style of playing and is hoping to entertain the spectators.

"Firstly, it looks really good," he said. "It looks like we are playing at a proper stadium. There were times last season you didn't want to look at the pitch at all, there were brown patches most places. With the additional stand, it looks like we have a really nice stadium. So that will be nice for supporters.

"It should produce faster games of rugby. We already play at quite a high tempo, so early season it's maybe not going to change much, but months November-February it's going to be quite similar to the beginning and the end of the season. So that's exciting for the supporters, if it's wet, cold and windy, we are still able to play at a high tempo."

Glasgow Warriors started the 2016/17 season with a 41-5 victory over the defending champions Connacht but Townsend admitted that there is still scope for improvement.

"We have to bring the players up again because of the challenge of Leinster," he said. "We have to front up physically, which we did last week, because they really challenge you around the breakdown and they try and play at a high tempo.

"The players will be excited and highly motivated because we're back at home and likely to be a capacity crowd.

"You will get that energy from them but I think we have to raise our focus because of the opponent."