Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar will continue to sit things out when the Ospreys take on Guinness Pro 12 champions Connacht next week.
The Wales pair – both on WRU dual contracts – missed the Ospreys’ comfortable 59-5 victory over Zebre on Friday night.
With limits of 16 regional matches per season for players on dual deals, Ospreys coach Steve Tandy says there will be no “panic” over selection and they will continue to trust their youngsters such as fly-half Sam Davies and second row Rory Thornton.
“Biggs and Al probably won’t be involved,” said Tandy, who also managed without Dan Lydiate, Scott Baldwin and James King against the Italians.
“The easy thing to do would be to bring them back and sort of panic about it, but we have to do what’s right by them as well because it is a hell of a long season. They’ll come back when we feel their physically ready, because if you rush them back something’s going to break.”
“We have confidence in our playing group. Some people probably want some of our senior internationals back a bit quicker, but we have trust in our squad.
“What last season taught us is that you only get experience by playing. The likes of Olly Cracknell, Rory Thornton, Sam Underhill and Scott Otten have all got a season under their belts and despite being young men, have gained good experience.
“Look at where Rory is now – his line-out, his speed of delivery and his skill. He played a hell of a lot of games last year and the guy is only 21 years old.
“It was pretty pleasing to get that five points at home in the first game. Zebre never gave up and were pretty physical, but the boys kept going.
“There’s a couple of things we need to tidy up, but our intent to play and shift the ball on occasions was really positive. And to get the bonus point in the bag pretty early was pleasing.
“It’s great to get off to a positive start.
“I thought Sam Davies’s balance of kicking and running was really good, making sure Zebre weren’t allowed to get anywhere near our try line early doors. Sam was beating people over the top and we were getting good counter-attack opportunities.”
