Ospreys set to punch full weight

MAGNERS LEAGUE PREVIEW:OSPREYS v ULSTER Liberty Stadium, 7.10 On TV: Setanta Ireland.

THE PERFECT start for Ulster following the arrival of Matt Williams to Belfast was exploded last week by six-try Munster.

Tonight Ulster face a side with the fire-power to do the same thing if Ulster put in another below-par performance. Granted, Williams' main brief is to keep ahead of Connacht and preserve Heineken Cup qualification for next season, while the Ospreys focus may be more on their Heineken Cup clash next weekend against Saracens.

Williams brings back Matt McCullough, Isaac Boss, Kieron Dawson and Bryan Young. To accommodate McCullough at blindside flanker and Dawson in the openside position, Neil Best and David Pollack are dropped out of the squad.

In the front row, Young returns to loosehead with Justin Fitzpatrick omitted from the team and Declan Fitzpatrick added as cover. Grant Webb is named on the bench.

The backs remain unchanged, apart from scrumhalf Isaac Boss, returning to the starting line-up, with Kieran Campbell covering there.

Ospreys have a string of Grand Slam-winning Welsh players lining out, including try machine Shane Williams on the wing and in midfield, James Hook. All Black Justin Marshall is the scrumhalf.

Duncan Jones adds international experience to the front row, with captain and number eight Filo Tiatia returning to lead the pack.

"We have some guys back starting for us. We are fortunate that we have those options to move things around and keep things fresh," said Williams.

"Paul Marshall picked up an injury against Munster so Isaac (Boss) will be starting. Our back line functioned well offensively against Munster and off set play defended well so that unit remains the same. Grant Webb deserves a shot; I haven't seen him play since I arrived so it is an opportunity for him on the bench, same with Roger Wilson who has had 20 minutes of rugby in last three months."

This is a chance to give some less experienced players a chance, with Williams really looking towards the crunch game against Connacht on April 11th at Ravenhill. They hope to rebound from the Munster debacle, while Ospreys relish the rare chance to select from a full squad.

"The contribution we have made to the international set-up this season, be it World Cup, Prince William Cup or Six Nations, means we have only had our full squad available to us on three occasions in the 12 games we have played so far, so our squad has been tested to the limit at times," said Ospreys coach Lyn Jones.

That new-look team could work both ways, although it is undoubtedly stronger than usual and all involved are certain to be playing with an eye on next week's big Heineken Cup encounter at Vicarage Road.

OSPREYS: J Vaughton; N Walker, S Park, A Bishop, S Williams; J Hook, J Marshall; D Jones, H Bennett, C Griffiths; I Gough, I Evans; J Thomas, B Lewis, F Tiatia (capt). Replacements: R Hibbard, P James, A Wyn-Jones, T Smith, R Webb, S Connor, J Spratt.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, M Bartholomeusz; N O'Connor, Boss; B Young, R Best (capt), T Court; J Harrison, R Caldwell; M McCullough, K Dawson, S Ferris. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, G Webb, R Wilson, K Campbell, R Dewey, M McCrea.

Referee: P Allan(Scotland).

Verdict: Ospreys win.