Glasgow Warriors captain Al Kellock brushed aside any suggestion that the club will struggle as they prepare for the new season without key players.

Dan Parks has moved to Cardiff Blues, while in the back row Kelly Brown has switched to Saracens and John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie are injured.

"Look at the guys we've got in behind. There's Chris Fusaro, Ryan Wilson and Calum Forrester," said Kellock.

"It's their turn to get an opportunity to show what they can do."

James Eddie is another who has impressed the Warriors captain, but he, like Beattie, has had to have surgery to repair a shoulder injury.

Preferring to put a positive spin on the raft of injuries that has hit his team, Kellock, who himself is being treated for a knee injury, added: "Hopefully it means we will get through the rest of the season having fewer."

It gives us experience of top-class rugby and we've got to bring it back and take it into the games for Glasgow Al Kellock on Warriors' inclusion in Scotland set-up

The club provided over a quarter of the players at Scotland's training camp this month at St Andrews ahead of the autumn Tests.

Chris Cusiter, Max Evans, Ruaridh Jackson, Graeme Morrison, John Barclay, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Moray Low, Richie Vernon and Kellock were invited to join the 37-man camp.

And the Firhill side have had a considerable presence in recent Scotland matches under coach Andy Robinson, further testing their fitness and exposing them to injury at the end of a long season.

"You wouldn't have it any other way," said Kellock, who captained Scotland to victory against the Pumas in Tucuman and Mar del Plata in June.

"We're delighted with the number of guys we've got in the international squad, the amount of guys who toured to Argentina.

Hopes are high at Firhill that Jackson can help to replace Parks

"It gives us experience of top-class rugby and we've got to bring it back and take it into training and the games for Glasgow."

Fitness coach Stuart Yule has been working the players 10 times a week in the gym, something the players have enjoyed ahead of Friday's friendly at Firhill, according to their captain.

"The boys have worked really hard in pre-season. The first game against Dundee was a good run-out and all the boys are looking forward to playing Sale on Friday," said the lock.

A great deal is expected of Jackson as Warriors coach Sean Lineen tries to cope with the transfer of the influential Parks.

Asked if the expectation might affect the young stand-off, Kellock said: "There's pressure on everybody's shoulders. I expect him to do well.

"He has shown that he can play well in the big games. It's now about finding consistency. His attitude's fantastic; he works really hard at training and it pays dividends when he plays.

"My advice to Ruaridh would be to learn from the other guys, but to concentrate on the hard work that he himself has to do."

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