Connacht v Ospreys: Teams

Ryan Jones will lead the Ospreys back into Magners League action as they take on Connacht at the Sportsground on Friday.

Both sides have enjoyed a prolonged break and now brace themselves for the start of a new season, although the Ospreys will go into Friday's game as clear favourites.

New signing Tommy Bowe will get his first competitive start for the Welsh region as he is preferred to Shane Williams on the left wing.

Williams, the star of last season for both region and country, will have to settle for a place on the bench for the trip to Ireland.

Elsewhere new Wales cap Andrew Bishop continues at inside centre in the absence of the injured Gavin Henson, although the Wales international and British and Irish Lion is expected to be back in action in a little over four weeks time.

Milestone

Captain Jones is joined in the back row by New Zealander Marty Holah, whilst Cai Griffiths, fresh from signing a new four-year contract with the region, gets the nod over Duncan Jones on the tighthead.

Connacht's new captain John Muldoon will make his 100th appearance for the region on Friday, and will be joined in achieving a milestone by Brett Wilkinson who makes his 50th appearance.

Speaking ahead of the opening game of the season Muldoon could not contain his excitement of finally getting back into action.

"Pre-season has gone well but we now need to take that into competitive action," he said.

"Everyone is dying for the Magners League to get under way and we are hopeful that we can make a good start."

There is just one change to the side that beat Queensland Reds in the final pre-season game, with John Hearty coming in on the left wing.

Connacht: 15 Fionn Carr, 14 Liam Bibo, 13 Gavin Duffy, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 John Hearty, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Andrew Farley, 4 Michael McCarthy, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Michael Swift, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Troy Nathan, 22 Aidan Wynne.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 James Hook, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Andy Lloyd, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Rhodri Wells, 21 Gareth Owen, 22 Shane Williams.