Caley's hopes of completing a quickfire Celtic League double against Llanelli suffered a setback yesterday when full-back Alan Bulloch was forced out with an ankle injury.

The Scotland internationalist pulled up during training at Motherwell on Thursday and with the two remaining Heineken European Cup ties on the immediate horizon, along with the Six Nations kick-off, coach Richie Dixon opted not to take any unnecessary risks with Bulloch's long-term fitness.

His withdrawal means a recall for former Test utility back Rowen Shepherd, while Barry Irving does bench-duty.

Despite the team-change, the Caley players are upbeat about their prospects of success at Stradey Park against the side they beat in thrilling fashion at McDiarmid Park barely a month ago.

But ideally, they want to make sure of the victory much earlier than they did that day in Perth. ''We should have had it sewn up by the end of the first half,'' reflected centre James McLaren.

''We kept giving them scores they didn't have to work for and if we can cut out mistakes like that, we will be in with a real shout.

''A victory on Welsh soil over one of their biggest and most glamorous clubs would be the perfect start to our year.''

On a personal level, McLaren is determined to catch the eye of the Scotland selectors in the build up to the Six Nations. ''I am not in the international squad at the moment, but I am hungry to be there,'' he added. ''It is up to me to prove that I am good enough to be considered.

''Last year was undoubtedly the best of my career when I think back on the Calcutta Cup victory and the tour to New Zealand and my aim is to continue in that vein. The fact that we will be taking part in a full-blown Celtic League along with the Irish provinces is also a mouthwatering prospect.''

McLaren agreed that the postponement of last week's encounter with the Reivers had interrupted the team's momentum - and underlined his desire to see a change to summer rugby.

''The Hughenden call-off was just part and parcel of playing through the Scottish winter and I can't for the life of me understand why we persist with it,'' he said.

''The pro players are in action for 10 months of the year as it is so why don't we have a time-out during the two worst months weather-wise. My ideal scenario would be to play through the summer and take my holidays abroad when there is only five hours of light here.''

McLaren's sentiments were echoed by prop Gordon McIlwham, another Caley man who is anxious to be on the plane to Paris next month. He said: ''We go to Stradey Park knowing we are a better team than them and it will be a case of overcoming the old hurdle of being able to win on Welsh soil.''

''Everyone has a big few weeks ahead with the European matches against Pontypridd and Leicester before Scotland activities begin. We have no chance of qualifying for the later stages of the Heineken Cup, but the games are certainly not meaningless in terms of playing well at the right times.

''In addition, it would be wonderful to go down to Welford Road and put a spanner in Leicester's works and we can use the experience as preparation for next season's campaign.''

Caley coach Richie Dixon said: ''Our last match against Llanelli was a wonderful one and there is no reason to think it won't be the same again. The surface at Stradey is probably the best in Wales and it encourages running rugby.''

His counterpart, former Wales hooker Gareth Jenkins admitted: ''Glasgow were very impressive a few weeks ago and, even with us having home advantage, we will have to be at our very best to have any chance of earning revenge for the match in Perth.''

His Llanelli side are boosted by the return of skipper Scott Quinnell, who has been sidelined since sustaining severely bruised ribs during the encounter at McDiarmid Park. They have also offered a two-and-a-half year contract to former Bristol centre, Leigh Davies, though he won't feature against the Reds.

The 24-year-old, who only left Cardiff in the summer said: ''I wanted to play back in Wales to enhance my international credentials. I was not very settled at Bristol, I was travelling back and forth. But now I am back in Wales, I have a great opportunity and I am looking forward to making the most of it.''

Llanelli - M Cardey; M Jones, D James, N Boobyer, F Finau; S Jones, R Moon; P Booth, R McBryde, M Madden, C Gillies, C Wyatt, D Jones, M Buckingham, S Quinnell (capt). Replacements: J Davies, M Thomas, V Cooper, D Hodges, D Peel, A Lawson, G Evans.

Glasgow CaleY - R Shepherd, J Steel, J McLaren, J Stuart, S Longstaff, T Hayes, A Nicol (capt), D Hilton, G Bulloch, G McIlwham, S Griffiths, J White, G Simpson, D Macfadyen, J Petrie. Replacements: L Harrison, D Hall, S Campbell, G Flockhart, I McInroy, B Irving, F Stott.