"We're really looking forward to Friday night, it'll be good to get back into the serious stuff after a tough pre-season and it should a good test for where we are. It's important that we get off to a good start, but we're up against a good team in Leinster, regardless of how many players they will have away at the World Cup.
"This group of players have come together really well over the summer, they've been diligent, worked hard, and are ready to go. They know their roles, what they've got do and they are desperately keen to do well for the Ospreys.
"We are particularly proud that given the number of players that are away, we can field a team on Friday night that has 14 Welshmen in the starting line-up. That's a great achievement in the circumstances and something that the region should be proud of. They'll be up against a Leinster team that while shorn of it's Irish internationals will still possess a lot of experience, and a lot of players who have experience from different countries, but we've got belief in this group of players to make a positive impression this season.
"These players, and a lot of them are still young kids making their first steps as a rugby player with their home region, have a good attitude, they want to wear the shirt with pride, and I sincerely hope that our supporters share our excitement, our sense of optimism and really get behind them this season."
Ospreys
15 Richard Fussell
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Duncan Jones
2 Mefin Davies
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Ian Gough
5 Ian Evans
6 Tom Smith
7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)
8 Jonathan Thomas
Replacements
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Ken Dowding
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 Morgan Allen
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Sonny Parker
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Eli Walker - Haematoma
Scott Baldwin - Hamstring
Aaron Jarvis - Ankle
Craig Cross - Knee
Tom Prydie - ACL
Gareth Owen - ACL
Nikki Walker - Medial Ligament
Richard Hibbard - Ankle
Ross Jones - Ankle
James Goode - Ankle
Joe Bearman - Minor abdominal strain
Forthcoming fixtures
Sat 10 Sep - Ospreys V Edinburgh - Liberty Stadium - Rabodirect PRO12 - 6.30pm
Sat 17 Sep - Benetton Treviso V Ospreys - Stadio Comunale di Monigo - Rabodirect Pro12 - 3.00pm
Sun 25 Sep - Ospreys V Ulster - Liberty Stadium - Rabodirect PRO12 - 4.30pm
Sun 2 Oct - Ospreys V Connacht - Liberty Stadium - Rabodirect PRO12 - 3.45pm
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