PETER HORNE is confident that, after years of steady improvement, Glasgow have what it takes to go that extra step further and win the PRO12 trophy a week tomorrow.
From being also-rans in the competition they have steadily improved their standing, reaching semi-finals and final in recent years.
Tonight, of course, they have the chance to return to the final by beating Ulster.
Yet, by the same token, the Warriors back knows that until they do go that bit further and claim silverware, other teams will be justified in looking at them with a certain scepticism.
"Until we get over the line and win something, until we put our hand up and win a competition and win a trophy, we're going to struggle to get the respect we want and we believe we deserve," Horne said. "Ultimately, until we have done that, the teams down south and in France can say what they want.
"We are desperate this weekend. It would be massive for us finally to win something and get that winning mentality.
"We've now been in this position a couple of times and we hope to learn from the emotion that comes with experience of the game. Having 10,000 incredible fans screaming you on is something we need to make sure we thrive on."
Horne knows that one thing which separates winners from mere contenders is the ability to play with relentless concentration for the full game. It is an ability that he admits he and his team-mates have lacked of late, and one he knows they will need to rediscover if they are to get the better of Ulster tonight.
"It comes down to the top two inches - concentrating and focusing for the whole 80 minutes. We need to make sure we put in an 80-minute performance. It's something we have struggled with in the past few weeks.
"You've seen us at our best in the last half-hour against Ulster [last week] and the first half-hour against Leinster and Cardiff. We can blow teams away and it's just about doing that for the whole 80 minutes. Big games like these can be decided on one slip, one lack of concentration, one bounce of a ball."
And, having been named players' player of the season by his team-mates this week, Horne is in buoyant mood going into what, if things turn out well for the home side, may be only their second biggest game of the season.
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