Cardiff Blues scrum-half Lloyd Williams reckons a wounded Ospreys side will be dangerous opposition when the two teams lock horns at Judgement Day V on Saturday.
Steve Tandy’s men have hit a stumbling block in their search for a play-off place, losing their last three matches to Benetton Treviso, Stade Francais and Leinster.
But Williams insists his team remain wary of the Ospreys and believes it will be a challenging game at Principality Stadium.
He said: “They have struggled in recent weeks, but they have been playing well especially against a really strong Leinster side.
“Those three games are uncharacteristic from them and we will expect a very strong Ospreys team. We know what they are capable of doing.
“They have a good mixture of players that like to play a power game. There is only so much you can look at the other team. We have concentrated on ourselves this week because we know if we play well then we can cause any team in the league trouble.”
Danny Wilson has made four changes to the team that drew 24-24 with Ulster last weekend which saw George Earle, Sam Warburton and Blaine Scully all depart with injuries.
In come Macauley Cook to the second row, Nick Williams at No.8 and Josh Navidi at flanker.
Matthew Morgan fills in at full-back with Rhun Williams switching to the wing.
The Ospreys – chasing a Guinness Pro12 top four spot – have also been forced to make changes with Dan Biggar the most notable absentee after he failed his head injury assessment protocol following a blow to the head in the defeat to Leinster.
Sam Davies partners captain Rhys Webb at half back, with New Zealander Kieron Fonotia dropping to the bench in place of Ashley Beck who joins Josh Matavesi in the midfield.
Dan Evans switches to full-back from wing with Dafydd Howells filling that void.
In the pack, 57-cap Wales international Bradley Davies makes his first start since November alongside Rory Thornton with James King in for Olly Cracknell at flanker.
Head coach Tandy is calling for his players to return to winning ways on Saturday.
“It’s the business end of the season now and we know what’s at stake over the next few weeks,” he said.
“We’ve got three big games, three tough challenges ahead, starting with the Blues at Principality Stadium and we know what we’ve got to do.
“We are in third place so we can take comfort that it’s very much about us in the run-in. If we put together three winning performances then there’s nothing anyone else can do to stop us reaching the play-offs.
“Things haven’t gone as planned the last few weeks. Ulster and the Scarlets are breathing down our neck and will both be desperate to put one over us in the final two rounds.”
