THEY are two teams that have boldly announced only silverware will satisfy them, so something has to give when Glasgow Warriors face Ulster in the final round of the regular season Guinness PRO12 this weekend.

They are both guaranteed places in the play-offs but also know that in the five seasons since the knock-out games were introduced, nobody has won an away semi final, and only the winner of their clash has even a chance of staying at their own stadium for the knockout round.

Both clubs are ambitious but know they will never be seen as members of the elite rank until they have won something, so this weekend's match could not matter more. "It is a huge one for the club, massive" said Duncan Weir, the fly half who has timed his comeback to perfection, making his first start last week after tearing a bicep muscle in December.

"Ulster have been up near the top of the league consistently for a number of years. They bring physicality and have great line-speed. We have the players that can cut them down but it is going to take a bit of patience. You can't try and break them down too early We need to execute perfectly to get behind their defence."

Technically, Ulster have the extra motivation of already knowing that their home stadium in Belfast will host the final, but it is hard to see how the intensity levels in this game can be lifted much further. An extra air of uncertainty comes from the fact that both teams know four points is probably not enough, they almost certainly need a scoring bonus point as well as a win to have a chance at a home semi final.

Glasgow are level with Munster and the Ospreys in the the league but have a worse points difference. Ulster are a point further back so that top-two spot depends on overtaking one of the other clubs involved in the four-way fight for honours.

Weir, who is likely to be on the bench after watching from the rehab room as Finn Russell secured the starting spot for both club and country, is confident that if he gets his chance, he can do what is needed to make sure his side get over that more difficult hurdle.

"I have come off the bench and changed the game before and I am quite happy to do that again," he said. "I bring a bit of energy and tempo off the bench and I am quite happy. Finn has played four months of rugby so I can't really get too uptight or worry about not starting.

"I want to show my worth in these last three games and as an individual I want to play. There is no point throwing your toys out of the pram like a 15 year old. It is about grasping any opportunity that comes my way now. It is going to be a squad effort every game up until we reach the final hopefully. The last 15 to 20 minutes is a huge period during the game if you are coming on. It is about leadership then and controlling the game as best you can."

One other thing that is giving Glasgow confidence, says Weir, is that they are starting to relish the role of front runners: "Last year, when we were sitting top for a number of weeks it was the first time we had been top for a while and looking back it was maybe daunting for the players having that responsibility. We have grown into it and we now expect to be up there and have everybody else chasing us. As a player group we believe we are good enough," he said.

From a personal point of view, he has to take advantage of any chances he gets over the next two or three games - depending on whether or not Glasgow get to the final - since he has left it late to make sure he is involved with Scotland's World Cup training squad.

"I want the Scotland jersey back back but it will be hard after four months of no rugby while Finn [Russell] has been playing, played for Scotland and looked comfortable on the international scene," he said. "It is going to be a longer process for me. There is no point me getting frustrated and kinda thinking and chomping at the bit too early as I need to understand where I am compared to the season that Finn has had. I am happy where I am now, I got 80 mins under my belt and physically my fitness levels feel fine.

"The operation was not so debilitating in training terms. Once I got out of my cast we had a good group, [Sean] Maitland, [Henry] Pyrgos - we worked hard and kept each other on our toes and created a great environment. I did single arm stuff and built into working on the other arm."