Ospreys to deny Ulster

Rugby Celtic Cup Previews/Neath Swansea v Ulster: They love their heroes in Ulster. When next they lose, it's adieu to the retiring Andy Ward and Gary Longwell, leaving just David Humphreys behind from the 1999 European Cup-winning side. This evening one more Herculean effort is required from the last vestiges of that famous victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road.

On that premise the Ospreys perfect home record this season and Ulster's abysmal eight defeats away from Ravenhill are diluted. The Welsh will be on high alert, though, as both those statistics were pushed to the brink back on January 21st.

That night, Mark McCall's side twice breached the Celtic League champions' try line before a highly suspect refereeing decision allowed Gavin Henson to edge the Ospreys home, 22-21, with an injury-time penalty.

Both sides are near to full strength with Sonny Parker the only significant Osprey marked absent. Still, they boost the twinkle-toes of Shane Williams and Henson, while Samoan bruiser Seveali'i fits nicely into the South Sea island stereotype. But so does Kevin Maggs.

The Ospreys can cap an excellent season for Welsh rugby by picking up the double in the last year of this competition, and potentially the Celtic League as we know it, given negotiations for an Anglo-Welsh cup.

Still, McCall's team are defending champions and he refuses to give up on the season just yet: "We're not going to just give it a crack. We have something to gain and the attitude going over to Wales is anything that has gone before is irrelevant as this is a cup game and a different type of competition."

Motivation is there in the shape of the departing leaders, but it will require a mighty effort.

NEATH SWANSEA OSPREYS (probable): S Terblanche; R Mustoe, E Seveali'i, G Henson, S Williams; M Jones, J Spice; D Jones, B Williams (capt), A Millward; B Cockbain, J Thomas; J Bater, S Tandy, R Jones.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, K Campbell; S Best, P Shields, R Moore; G Longwell, M McCullough; A Ward (capt), G Pfister, R Wilson. Replacements: R Best; R McCormack; R Frost; C Feather; N Doak; P Wallace; A Maxwell.

Referee: A Ireland (SRU).

Verdict: Ospreys win.

Neath Swansea v Ulster, St Helen's, 5.30