Preview: Edinburgh v Ospreys

The Ospreys have been boosted by the news that Sonny Parker and Jonathan Thomas are available for the Magners League trip to Edinburgh on Friday.

The Ospreys have been boosted by the news that centre Sonny Parker and replacement Jonathan Thomas are available for the Magners League trip to Edinburgh on Friday.

The Welsh region are without a number of players for the clash – with Lee Byrne, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, James Hook, Ryan Jones, Ian Gough, Alun-Wyn Jones, Duncan Jones and Richard Hibbard all on international duty.

On top of that, Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Ian Evans, Andy Lloyd, Ben Lewis, Mike, Jamie Nutbrown, Gareth Owen, Gavin Henson, Jonathan Spratt, Leigh Bevan and Jonny Vaughton are all injured.

So coach Sean Holley is pleased to be able to name the experienced Thomas and Parker, as well as Cai Griffiths and Kristian Phillips, in his side.

“This game marks the start of a very busy period for us, with six matches over the course of the next month, so we are pleased to see the likes of Jonathan Thomas, Sonny Parker, Cai Griffiths and Kristian Phillips making themselves available after injury as it increases the options available to us,” he said.

“We have a large squad here at the Ospreys, which will be utilised to the full over the coming weeks, so we're expecting all those selected for Friday to be looking to stake a claim to keep hold of the shirt.”

Meanwhile, Simon Webster will become Edinburgh's latest centurion when he features against Ospreys and the Scotland winger admits he is hoping to experience many more career highlights in the Black and Red.

The 27-year-old joined Edinburgh from Northampton Saints in 2002 and has since become the club's record try-scorer in the Magners League with 25 touchdowns.

But Webster says he is targeting even more career milestones in the future with Edinburgh and thanked the fans for playing such an important part in his development.

“It is great to have reached the 100-appearance mark with Edinburgh, but I still want to achieve so much more with the club,” said Webster.

“I missed the first five games of the season through injury, so I'm hoping to help Edinburgh climb higher up the Magners League table and in our Heineken Cup Pool.

“I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Edinburgh and the fans have always been brilliant with me.

“Ospreys have one of the strongest squads in the division, so we understand the sheer magnitude of the task ahead.

“But I will be aiming for a double celebration on Friday; making my 100th appearance and playing my part in an Edinburgh win.”

Webster is one of seven players named in Edinburgh's team who started for Scotland against Canada at Pittodrie on Saturday, including captain Mike Blair.

Head Coach Andy Robinson says he had no hesitation in selecting the club's international contingent for the visit of the 2007 Magners League champions.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome back our Scotland players for the match and the way they all performed over the Autumn Tests bodes well for Edinburgh,” said Robinson.

“We have three important matches (the Heineken Cup double-header against London Wasps) over the next three weeks and it is important that every member of the squad is ready for the challenge ahead.”

Scotland lock Jim Hamilton is the only internationalist rested for the match with Craig Hamilton and Ben Gissing filling the second row slots, while Ross Rennie is set to make his first start for Edinburgh since March after successfully recovering from a knee injury.

The 22-year-old flanker reclaims the number seven jersey after featuring as a replacement at Connacht in October with Alan MacDonald switching across to blindside.

Form: Edinburgh have won back to back matches in Castres in the European Cup and at Connacht in the Magners League. The Scotsmen have won three of their last four games against Welsh opponents. Ospreys may have won four of their five games in the Magners League this season, but the Welshmen have lost their last three away matches in all competitions since the last time they visited Scotland with a 21-18 victory at Glasgow in the Magners League on 12 September. Edinburgh had the best of their two meetings with Ospreys in the Magners League last season, winning 19-18 in Swansea and drawing 13-all at Murrayfield.

Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Simon Webster, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alan MacDonald, 5 Ben Gissing, 4 Craig Hamilton, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Matt Mustchin, 19 Scott Newlands, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 Hugo Southwell.

Ospreys: 15 Tommy Bowe, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 David Bishop, 12 Sonny Parker, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Tom Smith, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Steve Tandy, 5 Lyndon Bateman, 4 Filo Tiatia, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Paul James (c).
Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Ryan Bevington, 19 Mike Collins, 20 Jonathan Thomas, 21 Rhodri Wells, 22 Ashley Beck.

Date: Friday, November 28
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Changleng (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)