Mike Cusack will replace Euan Murray in Glasgow’s European Champions squad for the crucial final two pool games against Montpellier and Bath.
Murray, Scotland’s first choice tight-head prop, does not play on Sundays because of his religious convictions and both the Warriors’ final two games, starting with the French team at Scotstoun this weekend, are scheduled for Sundays.
Murray has therefore been de-registered from the squad restricted to 38 players under competition rules with Cusack, who made a comeback after a long absence with injury and illness in last Friday’s Guinness PRO12 win over the Scarlets.
Cusack, the 30-year-old who becomes eligible for Scotland later this year, played the first half in the win over the Welsh region with Murray playing the second half.
Cusack and Jon Welsh are the named tight-heads in the squad, with Ryan Grant able to play the position if required after playing there for Scotland against Tonga.
Meanwhile Scotland centre Mark Bennett might be set for a comeback for the Warriors against Montpellier this weekend after coming through half an hour of a practice game for the A squad against Scotland Under-20s at Murrayfield on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was a star in the early part of the season, scoring two tries in the rout of Bath in the European Championship Cup opener, and starting for Scotland against Argentina and New Zealand.
A knee injury against the All Blacks curtailed his season but his return provides a boost for Gregor Townsend who will be without Scotland caps Duncan Weir and Stuart Hogg for the two forthcoming pool games.
Realistically the Warriors have to win both remaining matches, at home to Montpellier and away to Bath, and pick up at least one additional bonus point if they are to meet their target of qualification for the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time.
Edinburgh, with four wins from four in their European Challenge Cup pool, have added trialist half-back Jade Te Rure in place of the still-injured Carl Bezuidenhout in their squad for the final two games, starting with a visit to Lyon this Saturday.
Te Rure has yet to play for the capital side although he was on the bench and not used for last Friday’s win at Connacht in the PRO12. The 21-year-old former All Black Under-20 fly-half is qualified to play for Scotland due to his Edinburgh-born grandmother.
He joined Edinburgh in December with a view to winning a full-time contract, but is likely to be behind Greig Tonks and Tom Heathcote in the battle for the 10 jersey for the doubleheader against French Top 14 teams, with Begles-Bordeaux due at Murrayfield in the final pool game.