Glasgow v Ospreys: Guinness PRO12 match preview
Last Updated: 20/02/15 6:48pm
Table-topping Glasgow Warriors' head coach Gregor Townsend gives a home debut to centre Fraser Lyle and makes four changes as they host third-placed Ospreys.
Ryan Grant, Rossouw de Klerk, Ali Price and Josh Strauss come into the starting line-up for Saturday's match at Scotstoun, following the Warriors' thrashing of Italian side Zebre last Sunday which took them to the top of the PRO12 table.
The Ospreys, meanwhile, welcome back Wales prop Ryan Bevington for his first game in more than a year after recovering from a groin problem.
They are further boosted by the return of Wales squad players Justin Tipuric, Aaron Jarvis and James King, who all start after being released from international duty.
Townsend gives a first start at Scotstoun to scrum half Price, while Edinburgh second row Fraser McKenzie could make his Warriors bow from the bench after joining the club on a short-term deal this week.
There are two positional changes, Leone Nakarawa moving from No 8 into the second row and Niko Matawalu moving from scrum half to right wing to replace the injured Lee Jones.
Grant starts at loose-head in place of Alex Allan, who is on the bench, Pat MacArthur continues at hooker and De Klerk comes in for Mike Cusack at tight-head.
Strauss comes in at No 8, after making a second half substitute appearance last Sunday following his return from injury.
Townsend said: "Ospreys have performed consistently well in the league this season and are just four points behind us, so this is a very important game for both sides."
Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy gives a first PRO12 start to Wales winger Dafydd Howells, following their loss at Edinburgh last weekend, but will be without centre Ashley Beck who fractured a bone in his ankle in that match and will consult a specialist.
Tandy said: “It’s crucial that we put in a much improved performance after the disappointment of last weekend in Edinburgh.
"We know how tough it’s going to be, going to a Glasgow team that has been playing really well and is full of confidence, so we need to make a huge step up in terms of what we did last time out."
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Niko Matawalu, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Fraser Lyle, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Peter Horne, 9 Ali Price, 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 5 Al Kellock (c), 6 James Eddie, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 8 Josh Strauss.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Will Bordill, 21 Connor Braid, 22 Rory Hughes, 23 Glenn Bryce.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Dafydd Howells, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Ryan Bevington, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 5 Tyler Ardron (c), 6 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Joe Bearman, 21 Ieuan Jones, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Watch Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys live on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday from 5pm
