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Guinness PRO12: Ospreys take on Zebre, Ulster host Edinburgh, Connacht meet Cardiff

Early Guinness PRO12 leaders Ospreys travel to Stadio XXV Aprile on Friday to take on Zebre, who are looking to make it two wins on the bounce.

The Italian team ended a run of four successive PRO12 defeats with their 13-6 win at home to Ulster on Saturday.

But it will be tough against an Ospreys side who have won their last five league matches since Zebre beat them in Parma on 1st May.

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Highlights of the round four Guinness Pro12 clash between Munster and Ospreys.

Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy has opted to bench in-form scrum-half Rhys Webb, with Martin Roberts starting in his place alongside Dan Biggar, while Jonathan Spratt and Hanno Dirksen have replaced Andrew Bishop and Eli Walker.

Up front, Lloyd Peers will start alongside Rynier Bernardo in the second-row as Alun-Wyn Jones takes a spot on the bench, with Justin Tipuric and Dan Baker not included in the matchday 23.

Zebre are boosted by the return from injury of Marco Bortolami, who captains the team in place of the benched Quintin Geldenhuys. Otherwise the forward pack is unchanged.

In the backline, Gonzalo Garcia replaces Kelly Haimona at inside centre while Edoardo Padovani makes way for experienced Italy international Luciano Orquera at number ten.

More from Guinness Pro12 2014/15, Round Five

Bounce back

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Highlights of the round four Guinness Pro12 clash between Zebre and Ulster.

Ulster will be attempting to bounce back from their first defeat of the PRO12 campaign against Zebre when they host Edinburgh, who drew 20-all at home to Scarlets last Friday.

Jared Payne has recovered from injury and will start at outside centre for Ulster - one of ten changes and two positional switches to the side that lost in Italy last weekend.

Louis Ludik, Andrew Trimble, Payne and Paul Marshall all come into the backline, with Tommy Bowe switching from the right wing to the left.

Up front, loosehead Ruaidhri Murphy starts his first competitive match for Ulster, as does Hughes Insurance Academy lock Alan O'Connor. Captain Rory Best returns to the side at hooker, with Wiehahn Herbst returning at tighthead.

Franco van der Merwe continues in the second row, while in the back row Robbie Diack returns at blindside, Chris Henry comes in at openside and Roger Wilson switches from blindside to No 8.

Forwards, Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson and Nick Williams are named on the bench, as are backs Michael Heaney, Stuart Olding and Darren Cave.

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Highlights of the round four Guinness Pro12 clash between Edinburgh and Scarlets.

Meanwhile, there are four changes to the Edinburgh starting line-up, including the return from injury of club captain Mike Coman, who will lead the side out for the first time this season and starts on the blindside.

Elsewhere in the forwards, prop Rory Sutherland makes a first start at loosehead while Grant Gilchrist and Roddy Grant move from the bench to start at lock and openside respectively.

One change to the backs sees one of last week's try scorers against Scarlets, Phil Burleigh, moving from the bench to start at fly-half.

Cardiff changes

In Friday’s final game, Connacht host Cardiff looking to bounce back after their defeat at Glasgow last Friday.

But their opponents are struggling, with their only victory in their last five PRO12 encounters coming in Parma against Zebre in the opening round of fixtures this season.

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Highlights of the round four Guinness Pro12 clash between Leinster and Cardiff Blues.

Captain Matthew Rees returns to the starting line-up for Cardiff, one of eight changes made by director of rugby Mark Hammett to the side that lost out to champions Leinster last week.

Tighthead prop Tao Filise makes his first start of the campaign, with Adam Jones rested, while Gethin Jenkins packs down at loosehead.

Samoa international Filo Paulo returns to partner former All Black Jarrad Hoeata in the second row while the back row sees Macauley Cook and Manoa Vosawai called in to play alongside Sam Warburton.

Three changes in the backs include Adam Thomas being named at full-back, with the league's current highest scorer Rhys Patchell moving to fly-half. Dan Fish returns on the wing while fit-again Gavin Evans joins forces with Cory Allen in midfield.

Connacht have also made eight changes to the team that lost against Glasgow last time out.

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Highlights of the round four Guinness Pro12 clash between Glagow Warriors and Connacht.

Ireland international Kieran Marmion returns to the starting line-up to mark his 60th Connacht appearance while wing Niyi Adeolokun and centre Craig Ronaldson represent the other changes to the backline.

Up front, Galway born prop Ronan Loughney earns his first start of the season after coming on from the bench in the last two rounds.

Nathan White also comes in to the front row with Mick Kearney and Quinn Roux starting behind them in the pack.

After missing last week's game away to Glasgow Warriors, Willie Faloon returns to start at openside flanker.

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