OSPREYS LOOK TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK

The Ospreys have won three of their past four games in all competitions, and have only been beaten in Swansea once in their last eight encounters; 15-18 by the Scarlets last May. However, the men from Neath-Swansea have lost the last four matches they have played against Irish teams.   Ulster’s only win “on the road” since September was a narrow 20-19 victory over the Borders at Netherdale on 12 November. Ulster have lost on both their previous visits to St Helen’s – in the 1997/98 European Cup and during the 2002/03 Celtic League, whilst they have won just once on their past eight trips to Wales – 28-0 over the Celtic Warriors at Brewery Field last March.   The teams have met on three previous occasions in the Celtic League with each side winning its respective home match last season, and the Ospreys triumphing 37-24 at Ravenhill in September, Dave Tiueti scoring a try for the Ospreys in each of these encounters.
 Ospreys: G Henson; S Terblanche; D Bishop, S Parker, S Williams; M Jones, J Spice; P James, B Williams (capt), A Jones, B Cockbain, J Thomas, A Lloyd, S Tandy, R Jones. Replacements: R Hibbard, A Millward, A Newman, R Pugh, R Rees, D Tiueti, A Durston.
Ulster: B Cunningham, T Bowe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, T Howe, D Humphreys, K Campbell, S Best, R Best, R Moore, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, R McCormack, R Frost, A Ward, R Spee, A Larkin, S Stewart.