By Steve Scott, rugby correspondent

GLASGOW COACH Sean Lineen is predicting a “brutal” contest between the Warriors and the Dragons as they lock horns in an opening Heineken Cup battle they both must win at Rodney Parade this afternoon.

Lineen recalls Graeme Morrison for his 100th appearance for Glasgow but the team are still without playmaker Dan Parks as they seek a repeat of their Magners League win a month ago in a blinding storm at Newport.

Parks’ successful kicks lifted the Warriors to victory that night and this time the pressure will fall on Colin Gregor, who deputised well for Parks in the loss to Munster at Thomond Park last week.

However the pressure is on both sides, knowing that with former champions Toulouse and Bath in their group, they must target each other for home and away victories if they are to have a chance of reaching the quarter finals.

“I think it’ll be a pretty brutal game,” said Lineen. “We know each other pretty well and managed to sneak a win the last time we were down when Dan had his kicking boots on in pretty atrocious conditions.

“However, that game will bear no resemblance to this one with all the hype and pressure that’s on both sides. There’s so much at stake.”

Glasgow were highly competitive last year in the competition, having titanic tussles home and away with Biarritz and Saracens and coming close to reaching the last eight on the back of home and away wins against the other side in the group, Viadana, but Lineen accepts it is very different a year on.

“We had a good run in the Heineken Cup last season but it’s up to the players to show themselves and each other that they’re hungry to make further progress in this year’s competition.”

The coach did pay tribute to Morrison, who in the last 12 months has gone from an inconsistent and sometimes peripheral figure in his team to a regular and a Scotland international.

“I’ve been around a while to see him mature and grow and I’m proud to see him back in the Scotland squad,” said Lineen, himself a Scotland player in the same position.

“He’s very committed to this team and, with his work rate, he’ll just keep getting better.”

Morrison is still only 26 next Friday, and will hope to mark the occasion with an appearance against the might of Stade Toulousain at Firhill.

“It’s a massive honour to reach 100 games for Glasgow in what is my sixth season with the club,” he said.

“However, when your birthday lands on such an important match then it pretty much gets shelved until another time, and let’s hope the result will give us all reason to celebrate.”

The Warriors will go with only two backs on the bench and have called up Richie Vernon, the ex-Dundee HSFP back row forward, who impressed for them in pre-season matches.

Edinburgh officials have asked fans to show up early for their Heineken Cup clash with Leinster at Murrayfield this afternoon.

The match kicks off at 1.35pm but while not all of the national stadium will be open officials are concerned that scrums can develop for entrance to the West Stand and some fans may struggle to reach their seats in time for the kick-off time, which has been set for Sky TV coverage.

Edinburgh have beaten the Magners League champions on the last four occasions the teams have met on league and Heineken Cup business at Murrayfield.