Preview: Ospreys v Leinster

In a battle of the mid-table teams, Ospreys welcome Leinster to Liberty Stadium looking to leapfrog their Irish visitors into fifth spot.

In a battle of the mid-table teams, Ospreys welcome Leinster to Liberty Stadium looking to leapfrog their Irish visitors into fifth spot on the Magners League table.
Both teams have begun their campaigns in fits and starts, with Lenister recovering from losing three of their first four games to register four wins on the trot. The Ospreys main challenge thus far has maintain any form of consistency, with Scott Johnson's men unable to put together a run of wins.
Johnson has been boosted by the return of with Dan Biggar, Richard Hibbard and Ian Gough, with the trio back from international duty and immediately fitting into the starting line-up.
With the squad short of numbers, 21-year-old prop Joe Rees has been included on the Ospreys bench, and the prop will make his Magners League debut should he be called into action.
Leinster boss Joe Schmidt will be pleased to once again have the services of Ed O'Donoghue at his disposal, with the lock successfully coming through his first match in two months last weekend.
Hooker Jason Harris-Wright makes his first start from the season, replacing Richardt Strauss. Harris-Wright is joined in the front row by Clint Newland who retains his place after an impressive debut last time out and South African Heinke van der Merwe.

Form: This is the first meeting between these two teams since last season's Magners League Grand Final at the RDS, which Ospreys won 17-12. Ospreys have won their last two games in all competitions but lost 16-21 to Dragons the last time they played at Liberty Stadium. Amazingly the last seven games Ospreys have played against Irish opponents have all been played in Ireland. Leinster have won their last six matches in all competitions since their 24-32 reversal in Edinburgh on 24 September. The Leinstermen's only defeat in their last eight encounters with Welsh teams was in the Grand Final on 29 May. Leinster have won on their last three visits to Liberty Stadium.

The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Gareth Owen, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Jerry Collins (Capt), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Justin Tipuric, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Joe Rees, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 James Goode, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa,14 Shane Horgan,13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Andrew Conway, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Shane Jennings,6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Leo Cullen (Capt), 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Ian McKinley, 23 Dave Kearney
Date: Sunday, November 28
Kick-Off: 17:00 GMT
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Referee: David Wilkinson
Assistant Referees: Tim Hayes, Jon Mason
Television Match Official: Tony Rowlands