The Ospreys kicked off their European campaign with a 38-17 bonus point victory at home to Treviso, while Leicester lost 23-9 out in Toulouse.
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said: “We had a decent start to the Heineken Cup with a win against Treviso last week. We won’t be getting carried away with ourselves as we realise that while there was plenty to be pleased with about the performance there was a lot that wasn’t.
“We will need to lift our game considerably this weekend if we want to achieve anything up at Leicester, and we can’t afford to slip off our game for large periods like we did last weekend or we will pay the price. Leicester won’t give us any second chance.
“Going to somewhere like Welford Road is a huge challenge but it’s the kind of fixture that will get anyone excited, be they a coach, player or supporter. It’s a fantastic venue and we’re up against one of the giants of European rugby at a packed house, you’ve got to be looking forward to it.
It’s a fixture that has grown into our short history to become something of a rivalry, along with games against the likes of Munster and Leinster, and it’s going to be intense, tight, and no doubt there’ll be very little between two physical teams.
“We’ll go to Leicester with confidence and belief, and with nothing but respect for the opposition. All week the preparation has been about controlling what we do, making sure everybody knows their roles, the calls and moves, and that we are accurate in everything we do, paying attention to detail. If we get that right, anything can happen.”
Leicester: S Hamilton; N Morris, M Tuilagi, A Allen, V Goneva; T Flood, B Youngs; L Mulipola, T Youngs, D Cole, G Kitchener, G Parling, S Mafi, J Crane (capt), T Waldrom.
Reps: G Chuter, M Ayerza, M Castrogiovanni, L Deacon, R Thorpe, S Harrison, G Ford, M Smith.
Ospreys: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, E Walker; D Biggar, K Fotuali’i; R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones (capt), I Evans, R Jones, J Thomas, J Tipuric.
Reps: M Dwyer, D Jones, A Jarvis, G Stowers, J Bearman, R Webb, M Morgan, T Isaacs.
