Moray Low knows his long career with Glasgow Warriors is coming to an end and the Scotland tight-head wants to make sure Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final is not the last hurrah.
Low joins Exeter Chiefs this summer after eight years with the Warriors that started when the club were still at Hughenden, and he’s played in each of the club’s three previous PRO12 semi-finals.
One more win will give him one more game, the final itself.
Looking about the pitch during the Warriors’ 54-0 rout of Zebre booked Scotstoun as the venue for this Friday’s play-off against Munster, the significance wasn’t lost on Low or other long-serving players.
“It was really special to be out there with the like of Al Kellock, Ruaridh Jackson and James Eddie,” he said. “We don’t know if that will be the last time we play together, or even play for the club, so we wanted to leave everything out there.
“I definitely want to play in the semi-final. Having joined Glasgow when we started off at Hughenden and to look at where we are now, it’s really developed, starting when Sean Lineen came in, and now Gregor taking it on further.
“Now we’ve got a home semi-final, playing away in the three before made it that little bit harder. So to bring it to Glasgow and show the city what we are achieving, it’s good for Scottish rugby and it’s good for us.
“To have this place packed out for the game will be fantastic.”
Low is one of several Scotland regulars who has found it harder to hold down starting places with the Warriors, such is the level of competition in the club, and he feels this is the key to their success.
“A few years ago, there were just 20 or 30 of us in the squad. You look at the likes of Leinster and they’d use 40 to 50 players over a season,” he pointed out.
“Now, there’s guys sticking their hands up all over the place, across the board, in all positions. It pushes us on at training, in the gym and on the pitch during matches it makes guys have to perform.
“You’ve had guys like Finn Russell who were just breaking into the squad at the start of the season now with a great chance of starting a semi-final.
“That’s happening across the team, everyone is competing for places and you know you’ve got to take your opportunities when they come.”
The team are under no illusions about Munster’s capabilities, despite having home advantage.
“Getting a home semi-final was a goal, but it’s another massive job for us to do,” he continued.
“They beat us here earlier in the season, although we won at Thomond Park a couple of weeks back, but their record in big games speaks for itself, they have so much experience of knock-out rugby, and I’m sure they’ll bring a good number of fans.”
As for his own future, Low’s happy to put that on hold for another three weeks.
“I’ve had to keep up and keep pushing because of the competition that is going for places, but I love playing for Glasgow, it’s been great for me,” he said.
“Sean Lineen gave me that opportunity and it’s great to see how we have developed to get to where we are now, and I want to do my bit this season to keep that going, and leave it hopefully with a happy ending.
“Moving on will be something different, but there is still a lot to concentrate on this season to keep my mind focused.”