Tandy ready for crucial few weeks

After this weekend's European clash against Northampton, Ospreys will lose nine first-team players to international duty for Wales as they prepare for the following Friday's league game with Connacht.

Uncapped 20-year-old prop Nicky Smith has been rewarded for his impressive start to the season with a maiden call-up, joining the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Dan Biggar in Warren Gatland's 34-man squad.

Wales play four Tests in November meaning that Ospreys could also be without a number of stars for their GUINNESS PRO 12 tilts against Ulster and Leinster.

But Tandy is hopeful that the players given a first-team chance at the Liberty Stadium due to international call-ups will seize their golden opportunity.

"The boys who step up will have big shoes to fill but the opportunity for progression is clear to them - they've just got to look at who has gone before them and where they are now," he told the club's official website.

"We lose nine Welsh boys to the national squad after Europe and there'll be others away with their countries as well.

"We've got a massive fixture against Connacht at the Liberty, then we've got the LV and tough games in Ulster and Leinster.

"It's a pretty difficult period for us, one that will really test the depth of our squad. It won't be an easy six weeks, but we are preparing for it now."

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