GLASGOW will reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time with any kind of win over Leicester on Saturday, despite their 14-12 defeat at home to Munster two days ago.

After that loss at Scotstoun, there was still a chance that the Warriors would need a bonus-point victory at Welford Road to ensure going through to the last eight as one of the three best runners-up from the five pools, Munster having become Pool One winners. But the completion of the penultimate round of pool fixtures yesterday removed that possibility.

A simple win without a bonus point would take Gregor Townsend’s team on to 18 points - a total that can only be bettered by the potential runners-up in Pools Two and Three. Glasgow were assured of second place in their own pool when Leicester lost at Racing 92 later on Saturday night.

There is also a chance that the Warriors could lose to Leicester yet still go through, although that would depend on results in Pools Four and Five falling their way. In both those pools, the runners-up could finish on just 13 points.

Needless to say, Glasgow will want to leave nothing to fate against the Tigers. There is no doubt, however, that their task, while remaining formidable, has been clarified considerably by the fact they will not need to go in search of a bonus point.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge - they’ll be fired up from the result here,” Townsend said, referring to his team’s 42-13 home win over Leicester in the first round of pool games. “They have a new coach and they’re changing the way they play. They’re playing in front of 25,000 at home.

“It’s the kind of game you want to be playing in. It would have been nice to beat Munster, but we have to move on and find a way to win next week. They have a different way of defending [from Munster], a different way of playing the game, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

“We’ll be playing at a venue where they have an excellent home record and they pride themselves on the contact area and the set piece. It’s a real challenge for our group, but we will be better for this experience. We will give it everything.”

Glasgow had bags of possession against Munster, but were naive in their use of it at times, and could not find a way through against an extremely well organised defence. But they now prepare for what has become a knockout tie for them, and they are confident that they know where and how to improve.

“We'll go to Welford Road confident,” scrum-half Ali Price said. “I think if we can just execute a bit better when we have the ball in the opposition 22 against Leicester then I'm sure we can get a good result.”

In a tense, tight match on Saturday night, neither side ever looked like coming close to getting five points for four tries or more. In the end there was only one touchdown in the game - for Munster substitute Francis Saili late on after Warriors full-back Stuart Hogg had been sinbinned for a high tackle. Tyler Bleyendaal, who had earlier been on target with three penalties, failed to convert Saili’s score, but it was still enough to put Munster in front for the first time in the match.

The Warriors, who had led 12-9 with three penalties from Finn Russell and another from Hogg, had time to attack after going behind. Deep inside the Munster half, they had a couple of chances to go for the drop-goal through Russell, but instead decided to keep pressing forward. With the benefit of hindsight, Price accepted that was probably the wrong decision.

“Me and Finn talked about it after and looked at each other,” he added. “It’s just one of those things.

“Looking back now, should we have had a crack? Maybe. But when you're in the game and in the moment we just carried on playing.

“We eventually coughed up the ball. Could we have taken a shot? Yes I guess we could have.

“We wanted to have a bit of ball in their 22 and get through the phases. We were confident we could break them down. I saw him back in the pocket. If the call was there I would have given it to him, but in hindsight it's easy.

“If we’re in tight games we’ve got a drop-goal routine or shape we form into. The boys are very aware of that. Maybe we should have gone into it.

“That's probably on me and Finn as half-backs to organise that. But when we're in their 22 I feel like we can break down any defence and ultimately get a try.”

Joint captain Henry Pyrgos may be available this week after missing out against Munster because of a knee knock, but it is likely that Price will keep his place, with third-choice scrum-half Grayson Hart dropping down off the bench if Pyrgos is passed fit. Otherwise, Townsend looks like having the same squad available to him.

Meanwhile, Glasgow are shortly expected to announce the signing of Adam Hastings from Bath for next season. The stand-off is the son of former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings.