Friday 10 October 2014 16:28, UK
The Ospreys host Cardiff Blues in a derby clash on Sunday aiming to maintain their perfect start to the Guinness PRO12.
Steve Tandy’s side have won all five of their PRO12 matches this campaign and have not let any opponent tally more than 15 points against them in any of those encounters.
But Tandy is expecting a tough test at the Liberty Stadium and believes his side must be at their very best to win.
He said: “Derby day at the Liberty Stadium is always something special. Make no mistake about it, the Blues will come here looking for the win and believing that they can do it.
“There's real quality throughout their squad, players who can hurt teams from anywhere, so we know that we'll have to be switched on from the first whistle and be at our very best.
“Results so far this season have been good, but they won't mean anything once the two teams cross the line at 4pm on Sunday.
“We've got to make sure that our preparation is good, that we accurate in everything we do, we know our roles and are relentless from the first second to last. If we control the things that we can, then we'll be in with a chance. Fall down in any of those areas and it'll be a different story.”
For Cardiff, Geraint Walsh will make his full debut while Adam Jones returns to his former region.
Walsh starts on the wing as Blues director of rugby Mark Hammett makes four changes to the side that stormed back to claim a draw against Connacht last Friday.
Summer recruit Walsh is the only change to the back line while three changes in the pack include Wales international tighthead prop Jones making a first playing return to the region where he successfully played for over a decade.
Flanker Josh Turnbull is recalled in the back row while the final change sees Josh Navidi play at No 8.
Scrum-half Lloyd Williams is named among a powerful replacements bench that includes Macauley Cook and Sam Hobbs, who both scored last week in Ireland.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 4 Lloyd Peers, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 James King, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Joe Bearman, 20 Morgan Allen, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Tom Grabham.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Adam Thomas, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Geraint Walsh, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lewis Jones; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 3 Adam Jones, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Navidi.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dan Fish.
