With only two days to go until Glasgow open their 2011/12 season by facing Newcastle Falcons at Firhill (Friday 12 August, kick-off 7.30pm), Warriors back-row forwards Chris Fusaro and Rory Pitman this afternoon experienced an alternative take on the fixture, getting to grips with the feathered inhabitants of Strathblane Falconry near Milngavie.

If the grace and strength of the Gyr and Peregrine falcons on show today is anything to go by, Sean Lineen’s men will need to be at the very top of their game come Friday, when they will look to secure a morale-boosting victory ahead of the start of the RaboDirect PRO12 action in three weeks’ time.

Supporters have the ideal opportunity to get behind the Warriors, with under-18s being admitted to Friday’s match for FREE (provided there is at least one paying adult in the group), and adult and student/senior citizen tickets priced at just £10/£5 respectively.

Pitman, a summer loan recruit from Ospreys, is in line to make his Glasgow debut in the game, and today urged fans who haven’t yet sampled the unique atmosphere of a Firhill Friday to join him in enjoying an initiation against the Falcons.

The 21-year-old told www.glasgowwarriors.org: “I can’t wait to run out with a Warriors jersey on my back, and it would be fantastic to do that with as big a crowd as possible supporting us.

“I know from speaking to the guys in the squad and to other players in the RaboDirect PRO12 that the Glasgow fans really get behind the team, and the more people we can give a reason to come and join that, the better an experience we’ll make it for everyone.

“It’s great that under-18s can come and watch us for free on Friday. They’re our next generation of potential supporters – we need to show them why it’s great to be part of the Warriors.”

Fusaro added: “The Falcons game is an exciting one to start the season. The boys have put in a lot of hard graft over the pre-season period, and it’s now about putting into practice all the things we’ve worked on and talked about against what will be very tough opponents.

“There will be a good number of new players on show on Friday as well, so there should be a real freshness to the game. The guys are raring to go.”

UNDER-18s GO FREE ON FRIDAY NIGHT (provided there is at least one paying adult in the group). Adults £10, students/senior citizens £5. To buy, CLICK HERE, call 0844 800 3490 or buy on the night at Firhill from the ticket centre to the rear of the Jackie Husband Stand.

SIGN UP FOR A SUPER VALUE WARRIORS SEASON TICKET AND GET IN ON FRIDAY AT NO EXTRA COST

The price of adult (£180) and student/senior citizen (£90) season tickets has been frozen, while under-18s will pay just £35 to watch the best in RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup rugby.

CLICK HERE or call 0844 800 3490 to stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest team in Glasgow.