Ospreys v Connacht: Teams

Connacht have a full-strength team available for their first match in three weeks against the Ospreys on Sunday.

Pacific Islanders Geroge Naoupu and Ray Ofisa take their place in the back-row, while fellow Islander Niva Ta'auso lines up in the centre.

Ireland A fly-half Ian Keatley and Irish international full-back Gavin Duffy are also in the starting XV.

The Ospreys are missing 17 squad members to international duty or injury, but it's not something that Scott Johnson is letting concern him.

"It's never an easy time for us to deal with, with so many players unavailable, but we've done a lot of work to plan and prepare for this.," he said.

"Yes, we've got the benefit of boys coming back to us from Wales in Dan Biggar, Ian Gough and Tom Prydie, which will help us, but make no mistake about it, this week is about the core group of players who have been waiting for their chance to show management what they can do, and why they should be in the team.

"Young players come and ask me why they are not in the team. It's my turn to sit in my office and say: 'Give me a reason not to pick you'. It's their chance in the sun."

Ospreys: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Jonny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Tom Smith, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough (c), 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Andy Lloyd, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Barry Davies, 22 Tom Prydie.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Mathews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Jamie Hagan, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Johnny O'Connor, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Adian Wynne, 22 Liam Bibo.