Connacht look to get back on track

Celtic League Preview: In chasing a season-changing victory one of the last places Connacht coach Michael Bradley would choose to take his charges is to the backyard of the defending champions. The Irish province has been struggling since beating Cardiff and several defeats have been by more than a couple of scores.

Connacht have never been beaten by tonight's opponents on Welsh soil - it'll be the first match between the teams in the new Ospreys stadium that they share with Swansea football club - and the Ospreys have lost their last four matches in all competitions.

Bradley gives senior competitive debuts to former under-21 internationals centre John Hearty and hooker Joe Merrigan. Keith Matthews is named in the centre with Darren Yapp on the wing. Their opponents will include Lions and Welsh wing Shane Williams who makes his seasonal bow and New Zealander Adrian Cashmore.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones admitted: "Shane Williams will play a part together with Adrian Cashmore who arrived earlier this week from New Zealand. Andy Lloyd and Jonathan Thomas made an impact last weekend. We look forward to getting as many fit players as possible back within the next week or so.

"We must remember we have never beaten Connacht at home and I know our players will want to set the record straight. They are an extremely resilient team. You take them lightly at your peril."

The Ospreys will not confirm their starting line-up until shortly before the match. Despite Jones' words of caution the home side will be confident of ending their losing sequence with Connacht possibly having to console themselves with a bonus point or at least an improved performance from recent matches.

OSPREYS: A Cashmore, S Connor, S Williams, J Vaughton, A Bishop, L Davies, D Karauna, M Jones, J Spice, R Rees, J Thomas, A Lloyd, L Beach, S Tandy, B Cockbain, I Evans, A Newman, D Jones, A Jones, P James, B Williams (captain), H Bennett.

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, J Hearty, K Matthews, D Yapp; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; R Hogan, J Merrigan, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley (capt); M Swift, B O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, C Rigney, M Lacey, C Keane, J Downey, T Robinson.

Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland).

Recent meetings - October 2003 (CL) at St Helen's: Ospreys 22 Connacht 33; April 2004 (CL) at Sportsground: Connacht 24 Ospreys 21; November 2004 (CL) at The Gnoll: Ospreys 9 Connacht 10; April 2005 (CL) at Sportsground: Connacht 13 Ospreys 22.

Leading try points scorers: Ospreys - Matthew Jones 28. Connacht - Paul Warwick 32.

Leading try scorers: Ospreys - Barry Williams 2. Conor McPhillips 2.