GREGOR TOWNSEND is hoping that lessons learned Down Under can propel his Warriors to glory this season.

The Glasgow supremo and his fellow coaches visited Australia this summer to spendtime with some of the country's top sides in both the Union and League codes.

Now Toony is hoping the tips they picked up will help Warriors go one better than last term, when they lost out to Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 final.

At Scotstoun yesterday the former British Lions hero said: "There's a confidence and a real work ethic in the squad.

"We are always looking for ways to get better. This summer I was in Australia and spent a couple of days with Waratahs, a day with the Brumbies and one with a rugby league club.

"Our backs coach Kenny Murray had three weeks with Crusaders and defence coach Matt Taylor spent time with rugby league and AFL clubs.

"We have all brought back something that should help with team building or even just the tactical side of things.

"We're always looking at how we coach, how we can work more effectively and how to deliver better performances.

"As coaches we can help the process of motivating players and helping them to improve but the players drive a lot of that as well."

Over the summer Warriors have kept almost all their top players while other sides have been shedding theirs.

They've also recruited well, with their most recent addition being Connor Braid, 24, on an initial three-month deal.

The Canadian -who can play at fly-half, centre or full-back - scored a try against Scotland at the Commonwealth Games Sevens at Ibrox last month.

Townsend has also signed up Gregor Hunter, George Hunter and Will Bordill on one-year training contracts.

Now he aims to get his team firing on all cylinders for their opening game in the rebranded Guinness PRO12 in two weeks when they host Leinster in a revenge mission for that 34-12 defeat in Dublin in May.

Tomorrow Warriors take on Harlequins in a friendly at Scotstoun before a trip to London Scottish next weekend. And the coach is confident they can build on their recent progress.

"We don't just want to sustain it, we want to get better," said Townsend. "We want to improve right across the board.

"What motivates the group is the fact that in their last two seasons they reached a PRO12 semi-final in 2013 then a final three months ago.

"Now we have to make sure that we start the new season as we finished last season."

Warriors are also hoping to make a bigger impact in Europe when the Heineken Cup starts in October. Last season they won only two games and finished bottom of their pool.

But Townsend believes the Glasgow club is in better shape both on and off the field.

"There is more consistency throughout the organisation," he explained. "We also have consistency with our crowds.

"I think there was only one game last season when our attendance dropped below 5,000.

"The supporters have more expectations. There is a buzz and real momentum building."