Some observers cite traditional notions of continuity of selection whereas Smith has shown a willingness to regularly make changes to his starting XV.
For tonight's URC meeting with Scarlets Smith has made ten changes to the the starting XV that secured a Challenge Cup semi-final spot after a hard-fought win over Emirates Lions last weekend. Warriors will face Scarlets again in a fortnight in the last four of the European competition.
Speaking in The Scotsman, Smith said: "I've been seeing some people writing that we're on a merry-go-round with selection - but that's not really what it is. There's a plan behind everything and the way we have gone about our business this year.
"I think most of this team played when we beat Munster a few weeks ago away from home, so this is not about just picking randomly. We need to keep the freshness in the team, because it's late in the season and we know that a lot of rugby has been played.
"We want to be prepared for every final that might be ahead of us, and that means making sure we have the whole squad ready to go if called upon."
Four key players picked up knocks last weekend but Smith expects George Horne, George Turner, Jack Dempsey and Sione Tuipulotu to be back in contention in time for the Scarlets re-match.
"They've all got little niggles that come through the season. But, hopefully, in a couple of weeks we can freshen them up and help them recover.
"It's nothing overly serious, but obviously I want to try and keep my cards closer and closer to my chest.
"Everybody outside of Glasgow is becoming more and more interested in us now and what team we can put out."
A win this evening will secure a home match for Glasgow in the URC play-offs, as well as lay down a marker for the Challenge Cup in a two week's time.
"The players we put out on the field must do a job. We don't take a risk. We give responsibility to the team," he continued. "You can just imagine how much Stafford McDowall and Sam Johnson want to contribute this week. The same with Sione Vailanu, Fraser Brown, and Ali Price as well.
"There's still places up for grabs for the knock-out stage of the season. We are clear in our own mind about what we're doing and where we're heading. In this game, we need to play to our strengths.
"I've prepared for many derbies and big games in my life, when you know you're going to play against the same team twice, and there are ways to manage it, so nothing will come as a surprise for us over these next couple of weeks.
"We still have this week and next week to get better at what we do so that the product we roll out in the finals are a well-rehearsed and well-prepared plan.
Ryan Wilson starts after it was announced that he will leave at the end of the season after 13 seasons with Glasgow. Wilson's experience could help settle any nerves such as became apparent in last weekend's Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Emirates Lions.
"When we watched it back, we could see that it was about not sticking to our processes under pressure," concluded Smith. "Earlier in the season, we have handled the pressure well and last week was the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of how important it is to do that.
"So, they were easily fixable things, and another arrow in our quiver to take into the next high-pressure match.
"And our objectives go beyond this season, they go into next season as well, and they are to keep improving in the direction we want to head in because we are still well off where we want to go."