The reigning RaboDirect PRO12 Champions take on the Heineken Cup semi-finalists on French soil as they look to build on the progress made at this week’s training camp in Issoire.
Isaacs, who made 21 appearances for the region last term, has been named at outside centre in a team captained by Jonathan Thomas but missing the Wales internationals who toured Australia earlier in the summer.
The Ospreys could hardly have picked a tougher test for the pre-season opener at the end of a demanding week but the versatile 25-year-old insists it will do him and his team-mates a whole world of good.
“We’ll be all the better for this experience. We’re working hard through the week and then we’ve got tough opponents in Clermont Auvergne who we are expecting to come fully loaded,” said Isaacs.
“It’s a great environment for us to be in for a week. It’s an important trip in terms of preparing for the new season and getting the boys switched on. We know that we are going to have to go away as a group to tough places over the course of the season and this is where we do the groundwork to build from.
“We realise that we’ve got a job to do and it’s not just turning up somewhere for a match and then going home. We have to be a strong unit that is prepared well and ready to do the job.
“A week in camp like this allows us to get to know each other better as a group and allows us to focus on that first game that will be with us before we know it. It’s a great environment to be in like I said, but we are here to work hard not enjoy the sights.
“Friday night’s game will be a really good test for us to see how we are progressing ahead of the new season and we can’t wait to pull the shirt on again and get out there.”
Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy has selected a mix of youth and experience in a 26-man matchday squad, with Ian Gough, Kahn Fotuali’i and Richard Fussell included in the starting line up alongside the likes of fledgling wingers Tom Grabham and Ross Jones and second row Sam Williams.
Dan Biggar and Hanno Dirksen are named among the replacements, while new signing Jonathan Spratt marks his return to the club with a place at inside centre.
“This is a big test for this group of players,” said Tandy.
“Clermont have a very strong squad and are ahead of us in term of preparation for the new season so we know we’re up against it. But as a coaching group it’s going to be interesting for us to assess how they react.
“We’vegot a good mix in the team, which makes for an exciting selection. There are older heads who can provide the know-how and guidance to some young players who are keen to impress, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Ospreys side vs Clermont Auvergne
15 Richard Fussell
14 Tom Grabham
13 Tom Isaacs
12 Jonathan Spratt
11 Ross Jones
10 Matthew Morgan
9 Kahn Fotuali’i
1 Ryan Bevington
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Joe Rees
4 Ian Gough
5 Sam Williams
6 James King
7 Sam Lewis
8 Jonathan Thomas (captain)
Replacements
16 Scott Otten
17 Duncan Jones
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Lloyd Peers
20 George Stowers
21 Morgan Allen
22 Tom Habberfield
23 Dan Biggar
24 Hanno Dirksen
25 Nathan Edwards
26 Nicky Thomas
