THREE games down, one win and two heavy losses later, and Glasgow take on Newport in their Conference battle. It is a game that could spell good or bad news for a Glasgow team which has done perhaps better than expected, gelling as a unit, but a team, nevertheless, that has looked as though it has not expected to win and, therefor, losing has been an easy option. Back are caps Ian Jardine and Shade Munro, with James Craig restored to the wing.

``Our number of internationalists has trebled in one fell swoop, '' said Glasgow captain Gordon Bulloch. ``After Kenny Logan's injury we just had Derek Stark as the voice of experience. It had become a bit quiet in the back division.''

Understandable, in that without Logan, and ignoring Stark, Glasgow's backs were inexperienced and one can only imagine the lack of verbal cajoling. Logan, who flitted around the team boosting egos and morale with his singular bonhomie, has been a huge loss but Jardine brings with him authority in midfield.

Munro, picked for Scotland A's tussle with the Aussies, is expected to put some more fire and mobility into the pack, he should be aided and abetted by a fit-again Murray Wallace.

Whether the injection of class players makes a difference only time will tell, but the fact remains that, just as in the tussles with Sale and Newbridge, not a lot is known about Glasgow's opposition, other than that they, too, beat Newbridge but not as convincingly as did Glasgow.

In their three games to date, Glasgow's problems have not been in winning set-piece possession, more they have concerned an inability to make it count against bigger, more abrasive, teams who have smothered Glasgow's men as they have tried to make ground.

The fervent hope is that Ian Jardine can punch the gain line alongside Alan Bulloch, and Munro can add his weight to explosive sorties around the paddock.

``It is going to be another hard week, but you can take it from me that the boys have really been looking forward to this.'' says Bulloch. Another tough game for Glasgow.