Preview: Toulon v Ospreys

Toulon entertain Ospreys at Stade Felix-Mayol on Saturday in what promises to be one of the Heineken Cup clashes of the weekend.

Heineken Cup glamour side RC Toulon entertain Ospreys at Stade Felix-Mayol in Pool 3 on Saturday in what promises to be one of the clashes of the weekend.

The French side are making their debut in the tournament after six previous Challenge Cup appearances including their loss in the final to the Cardiff Blues last year.

The Ospreys have been consistent performers in the Heineken Cup making the quarter-finals for the last three years. They will fancy their chances of going all the way if they are able to get out one of the most difficult groups in the competition.

But they will first have to overcome some of the World's biggest stars in the form of Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Paul Sackey, George Smith and Jonny Wilkinson, who will all turn out for the home side on Saturday.

Lions and Ospreys star scrum-half Mike Phillips has vowed to give Wilkinson a hard time.

“We have to respect Jonny but we also have to get in his face and stop him having a good game,” Phillips told the Mirror.

“He's obviously their stand-out player. He has achieved so much and basically won the World Cup on his own.

“With him on the pitch, discipline will be vital. He's such a dangerous kicker that we can't give silly penalties and points away.

“Toulon have a very partisan crowd who get behind their team and it's going to be tough.

“A good crowd can be worth about 10 points and can have a big influence on the referee.

“We've improved our discipline immensely and we have the team to win. It's the first big game of the Heineken Cup, it's where the big players come out to play and show their worth.”

The teams:

Toulon: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mafi Kefu, 12 Geoffroy Messina, 11 Benjamin Lapeyre, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 7 George Smith, 6 Olivier Missoup, 5 Christophe Samson, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli,1 Saimone Taumoepeau
Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Benjamin Basteres, 18 Mehdi Merabet, 19 Thomas Sourice, 20 Tom May, 21 Clement Marienval, 22 Laurent Magnaval, 23 Jocelino Suta,

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (C), 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James
Replacements:16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Gareth Owen, 23 Nikki Walker

Date: Saturday, 9 October
Venue: Stade Felix-Mayol
Kick-off: 14:30 (13.30GMT)
Referee: Alan Lewis