Glasgow make two changes for Champions Cup quarter-final as Toulon confirm Ben White decision

The international scrum-half injured his ankle in the round of 16 tie with the Bulls last weekend and had to come off after half an hour. He was replaced by Ben Afshar and it is Afshar who will start against Toulon on Saturday afternoon as Glasgow bid to reach the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time.

Afshar’s inclusion is one of two changes head coach Franco Smith has made to his starting side. The other comes in the pack where Jare Oguntibeju is selected ahead of Max Williamson, with the latter dropping to the bench.

Smith has stuck mainly with the same players who beat the Bulls 25-21, which means Stafford McDowall retains his place at outside centre ahead of Huw Jones. McDowall excelled in the win over the South African side and was named player of the match.

It is the first time Glasgow have staged a Champions Cup quarter-final at home and the prize on offer for the winners is a semi-final against either Leinster or Sale Sharks. If the Warriors were to win, they would have home country advantage in the semi and would play the match at Murrayfield.

Saturday’s game will be a big test for Afshar who this week signed a new two-year contract with Glasgow. He will be up against Scotland’s first-choice scrum-half Ben White who has been picked to start for Toulon. White got the nod ahead of France international Baptiste Serin who is named on the bench. Jack Oliver is the Warriors’ back-up scrum-half.

How they’ll line up at Scotstoun

Glasgow Warriors: 15. Josh McKay; 14. Kyle Steyn (c), 13. Stafford McDowall, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Ollie Smith; 10. Dan Lancaster, 9. Ben Afshar; 1. Patrick Schickerling, 2. Gregor Hiddleston, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Olujare Oguntibeju, 5. Alex Samuel, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey. Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Max Williamson, 20. Euan Ferrie, 21. Angus Fraser, 22. Jack Oliver, 23. Adam Hastings.

RC Toulon: 15. Melvyn Jaminet; 14. Gaël Drean, 13. Nacho Brex, 12. Jérémy Sinzelle, 11. Setariki Tuicuvu; 10. Tomas Albornoz, 9. Ben White; 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2. Teddy Baubigny, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Corentin Mezou, 5. David Ribbans (c), 6. Junior Kpoku, 7. Charles Ollivon, 8. Mikheil Shioshvili. Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Daniel Brennan, 18. Beka Gigashvili, 19. Matthias Halagahu, 20. Zach Mercer, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Esteban Abadie, 23. Mathis Ferte.

Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng).