Ospreys name team for Blues game

Head Coach, Lyn Jones said: "Whilst it is never ideal we have planned for this very quick turnaround. If the Blues are to do well in the Heineken or win the Magners League they will be looking to come to the Liberty Stadium and put together a performance of some standing, but both sides will be looking to get a result in order to maintain momentum for what will be a testing few weeks in both competitions."

"Although we are bitterly disappointed not to have scored the try that would have won the match at Stradey Park, both players and coaches have been buoyed by individual improvements, structure and the desire we demonstrated in much of our game-play. Allowing the Scarlets to score two tries was the biggest disappointment for the players as we had anticipated having to score approximately twenty points to get the win. We created more than enough opportunities but sometimes things just do not go your way and Thursday evening turned out to be just one of those times. We have been encouraging our players to play without fear and to react to what is in front of them, and whilst it is a big ask for inexperienced players to play this way we feel it is a requirement to aspire to if we are to match the very best European teams."

"We have some big fixtures ahead of us over the coming month and we are looking to peak at the right time in terms of our enthusiasm, attitude, physical and mental preparation. It is vital that we do not over-play individuals and that all of our players make our selection meetings as difficult as possible. Rivalry between the Blues and ourselves has intensified since our 39-3 victory at the Gnoll back in September 2004, when James Hook and Aled Brew made their debuts as Ospreys players. A vocal home crowd at the Liberty makes a big difference when players need to find the extra five per-cent and I can assure all involved that we will have another physical encounter, with no quarter asked or given."

Ospreys team:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Nikki Walker
13 Gavin Henson/ Mark Taylor
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Shane Williams
10 James Hook
9 Justin Marshall

8 Ryan Jones (Capt)
7 Marty Holah
6 Filo Tiatia
5 Ian Evans
4 Ian Gough
3 Adam Jones
2 Huw Bennett
1 Paul James

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard/ Ed Shervington
17 Duncan Jones
18 Alun Wyn Jones
19 Jonathan Thomas
20 Mike Phillips
21 Shaun Connor
22 Mark Taylor/ Jonathan Vaughton

Gavin Henson (hand) and Richard Hibbard (knee) will face fitness tests just ahead of kick off


Injury and squad availability news :
Two players are not available for selection this week. Sonny Parker has undergone a minor knee operation and will be out for around two to three weeks Barry Williams will have a hip operation in London on January 7th and he then faces a four-month rehabilitation programme