BEWARE Dan Parks, warns Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner ahead of tomorrow night's Magners League game at Firhill.
The Dragons have won in the Scottish city for the last two seasons at their former Hughenden headquarters, but this will be their first experience of Firhill, home of Partick Thistle Football Club.
The Dragons travel fresh from their victory over Llanelli Scarlets on New Year's Day when they gained the double over them for the first time and despite the short turnaround will be looking for a hat-trick of victories in Glasgow though the opposition have had a week longer to prepare.
But Turner will urge his team to be wary of the 36-times capped Australian-born Scottish outside half, who is the second highest points scorer in Celtic and Magners League history with 683 points behind David Humphreys who is on 786.
"He will be the main danger, he's usually the difference between Glasgow winning and losing," said Turner. "I've watched him for a number of years and he manages the game along with the best.
"He was without doubt one of Scotland's players of the World Cup.
"He's got lots to his game, his kicking is right on the button, his goal kicking is second to none and his defence has improved as well."
Parks scored 21 points in Glasgow's last game against neighbours Edinburgh when they lost to a late try, also getting 21 against Viadana in the Heineken Cup and 20 against Ulster this season.
Glasgow are much stronger this season and Turner also highlights the arrival of former All Blacks centre Daryl Gibson from Leicester and Super 14 players wing Lome Fa'atau and scrum half Chris O'Young as well as Argentinian full back Bernardo Stortoni who signed from Bristol and Kelly Brown, the former Borders and Scotland flanker.
"We're going to have to play well and after the Scarlets game I don't want any more left to the last play," said Turner.
Dragons players insist they can't afford to lose against Glasgow after their victory over the Scarlets.
"It was nice to get the double against them, but we need a quality performance up there or that victory will be irrelevant," said centre Ashley Smith.
"They are doing well this season, we haven't played them yet but after winning there in the last two seasons hopefully we will this year. We'll go up there as a team and hopefully the result will come."
Fellow try scorer Richard Mustoe stressed, "We can't get carried away with one win. We've got to try to push forward now, our form on the road hasn't been too bad and though it's a short turnaround the boys are looking forward to it."
Wing Gareth Wyatt returns to the squad after being out since mid-November with a damaged shoulder, though the actual team is expected to show little change, largely because of the lengthy injury list.
Ten players are still out of action - Gareth Maule (knee), Martyn Thomas (groin), Rhodri Davies (foot), Wayne Evans (suspension), Jamie Corsi (elbow), Lee Harrison (foot), Luke Charteris (shoulder) Richard Parks (knee), Dan Lydiate (knee) and Jamie Ringer (shoulder).
Squad: K Morgan, R Fussell, R Mustoe, G Wyatt, P Emerick, A Smith, C Sweeney, A Thomas, A Williams, A Walker, R Lewis, A Black, H Gustafson, R Thomas, B Daly, S Jones, A Hall, A Jones, P Sidoli, J Bearman, J Harris, M Owen, C Charvis (captain), L Evans. Kick off 7.30pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article