The Blues won the reverse fixture in Swansea in December 28-9, when confidence at the Arms Park was high following a run of good results in the Heineken Cup, but recently it has been the Ospreys showing the more impressive form.
Blues coach Dai Young said: “The Ospreys I’m sure will be really hurting after our victory over them before Christmas and will be looking for revenge.
The Ospreys have Wales’ Ian Evans, Jon Thomas and Shane Williams available for selection but Williams faces a fitness race.
The Wales and Lions wing suffered a dead leg against Scotland, but hopes for game time ahead of the Italy match
“We had a great performance that night but the Ospreys are still a good side and are not Celtic League champions for nothing.”
“Shane has resumed light training and hopes to progress this with a view to being included for the Ospreys match,” said Wales physio Mark Davies.
But the Blues are able to call upon a number of the Wales RBS Six Nations squad.
Gethin Jenkins, Mike Phillips and Nick Robinson all return to regional duties and are included in the starting fifteen. Rhys Thomas, Martyn Williams and Robert Sidoli could not be considered for selection.
“Jonah Lomu has tweaked his hamstring so we didn’t want to risk him for this match and Andy Powell has stitches in his hand. However it’s great to have the Welsh squad players back who are eager to get back in to action.
“Obviously it’s a big game for us and we’re all looking forward to the match after a long period of inactivity,” he added.Â
Ospreys coach Lyn Jones admits his side will be looking for revenge
“The Blues did a good job on us over Christmas after our Heineken Cup heartbreak against Leicester so you could say it’s a chance of revenge,” he said .
“We’ve fought hard to turn it around since. I don’t know if we’re there yet, but the improvement has been evident and it’s important to maintain that.”
Blues: Williams (capt); Morgan, J Robinson, Stcherbina, Czekaj; N Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, Goodfield, Jenkins, D Jones, Goode, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.
Replacements: M Jones, Johnson, Quinnell, Schubert, Powell, Macleod, Thomas.
Ospreys: Stefan Terblanche; Richard Mustoe, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Shaun Connor, Jason Spice;Cai Griffiths, Huw Bennett, Andrew Millward, Andrew Newman, Lyndon Bateman, Jonathan Thomas, Steve Tandy, James Bater (capt).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Craig Mitchell, Ian Evans, Des Dillon, Martin Roberts, Matthew Jones, Andrew Bishop.
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
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