The Ospreys have turned to teenager Harri Morgan and hope he will be inspired before his home town crowd when they host Connacht at Bridgend on Friday night.
It will be the 18-year-old’s first full game after he made debut off the bench in the defeat to Worcester Warriors last week.
That was in the European Challenge Cup, so the Connacht clash will also be a Guinness Pro 14 first appearance for Morgan at the Brewery Field, when he began his career with the Ravens.
Sam Davies partners Morgan at half-back as the Ospreys seek to recover from last week’s defeat – their second in their last three matches.
The game is being played at the Brewery Field because Swansea City are at home to Reading on Saturday and the Ospreys were keen to avoid a Sunday fixture at the Liberty Stadium which would have meant a short turnaround to the visit from Glasgow next Friday.
“We’re all really looking forward to playing at the Brewery Field,” said Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke.
“The boys love playing at the Liberty but going to Bridgend is an exciting prospect. It’s a club with a great rugby history and many of the boys have played for them in their early years.”
Clarke is able to field a strong pack which features Wales internationals in Rhodri Jones, James King, Dan Lydiate and Rob McCusker.
Flanker Lydiate has been released from the Wales camp preparing for the 2018 Under Armour Series to get some game time against Connacht.
“We play Glasgow next Friday at home and the boys need the time to recover before preparing for another important game,” said Clarke.
“We appreciate the logistics for staff and supporters alike but it’s a great opportunity to fill the ground and create a fantastic atmosphere.”
Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler makes his first Guinness PRO14 start at inside centre, partnering Cory Allen in midfield.
Allen scored a brace of tries in the Ospreys’ Challenge Cup defeat at Worcester Warriors last Saturday so should go into the game in fine form.
Elsewhere in the backline, Keelan Giles, Hanno Dirksen and Dan Evans make up the back three.
Form Guide
20/10/18 Warriors 27 – 21 Ospreys 6,823
13/10/18 Ospreys 27 – 0 Pau 6,072
6/10/18 Scarlets 20 – 17 Ospreys 12,012
Form Guide
20/10/18 Sharks 34 – 13 Connacht 4,249
13/10/18 Connacht 22 – 10 Bordeaux 4,878
5/10/18 Ulster 15 – 22 Connacht 13,109
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Date Home Score Away Att
6/4/18 Ospreys 39 – 10 Connacht Rugby 8,092
9/2/18 Connacht Rugby 26 – 15 Ospreys 5,242
7/1/17 Ospreys 29 – 7 Connacht Rugby 6,669
