Ospreys team to play Newport Gwent Dragons

15 Richard Fussell
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Ashley Beck
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Tom Habberfield

1 Duncan Jones
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Ryan Jones
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 James King
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Dan Baker

REPLACEMENTS

16 Scott Otten
17 Nicky Smith
18 Adam Jones
19 Tyler Ardron
20 Sam Lewis
21 Tito Tebaldi
22 Sam Davies
23 Aisea Natoga

Aaron Jarvis makes his 50th appearance for the Ospreys

Head Coach Steve Tandy said:

"We picked up a crucial win at the Liberty last Friday, against Leinster, but the reality of our position means that we have to hit those standards again on Sunday against the Dragons and then twice more again over the final few weeks of the season. We know that our play-off destiny is out of our hands but that doesn't mean that we won't be giving it everything to try and put pressure on the teams above us. We have to do that, we have to make sure that if one of them slip-up, we are in a position to take full advantage. With some of the key games coming up featuring the top teams playing each other, points will be dropped, that's inevitable.

"In terms of the Ospreys, whatever the outcome over the next few weeks it is crucial that we keep building momentum on and off the pitch. I keep saying it, but there is no going away from the fact that we have a young group of players, and there is some exciting talent coming through the ranks who are getting some invaluable experience at the top end of the game.

"What they will have taken from winning such a tight game against a quality team like Leinster last week you can't measure. If we have the support, crowd wise and financially, to keep this group of players together as they develop and flourish then the future for the Ospreys is a pretty exciting one, and all credit to the board for the money they invest into our development structure. We are beginning to see the benefits of that investment, but there is a long way to go yet.

"We know what the Dragons will bring on Sunday and with it being a derby game at the Millennium, the message will be very much that the boys need to stay grounded, forget about everything that is going around them, and focus on the job in hand. They can't afford to get distracted, for us it's about getting and getting the job done. They set the benchmark against Leinster and they mustn't fall below that, they've got to keep on striving to improve. If they do that, then we could extend our season into the play-offs, and beyond that, go into the new season positively."

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:

Dmitri Arhip - Achilles
Joe Bearman - Bicep
Ryan Bevington - Groin
Richard Hibbard - Shoulder
Tom Isaacs - Ankle
Ben John - Shoulder
Lloyd Peers - Shoulder
Tom Smith - Knee
Eli Walker - Hamstring
Rhys Webb - Knee
Sam Williams - Shoulder

Forthcoming Fixtures

Thurs 1 May 6.00pm KO (Local) - Zebre v Ospreys - PRO12
Sat 10 May - 6.30pm KO Ospreys v Connacht - PRO12