Glasgow Warriors will be without a key playmaker for their massive European showdown, as head coach Franco Smith has confirmed scrum-half George Horne will miss Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final against RC Toulon due to injury.

In a crucial tactical shift, Ben Afshar steps into the starting nine jersey to partner Dan Lancaster in the half-backs. This is one of two changes to the side that secured a dramatic victory over the Bulls last weekend, a win that propelled them into this high-stakes knockout stage.

The Warriors' pack shows impressive consistency, with an unchanged front row of Patrick Schickerling, Gregor Hiddleston, and Zander Fagerson tasked with setting the physical platform. The engine room sees a tweak, however, as Jare Oguntibeju comes into the second row to partner Alex Samuel, adding fresh power against the formidable Toulon forwards.

The backline retains its potent core from last week's triumph. Stafford McDowall, fresh off a Player of the Match performance, continues at outside centre alongside Sione Tuipulotu, while captain Kyle Steyn once again leads from the wing. The back-three is completed by the dangerous Ollie Smith and Josh McKay.

Smith acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, stating, "Toulon are well accustomed to knockout matches of this scale, with a proud heritage of success in this competition. They have a squad that blends a physical forward pack with a back line that can cause problems for any team, and we know that we must be at our best to meet their challenge."

The bench features a 6-2 split favoring forward reinforcements, with Max Williamson rotating among the substitutes. Jack Oliver is in line for a potential Champions Cup debut if called upon from the bench, adding an exciting prospect for the Warriors' faithful.