The Ospreys have decided that this game doesn’t matter, that can be the only explanation for the team that they have named vs the Cardiff Blues. Form players like James Hook and Nikki Walker have been dropped to the bench, whilst limited players who have struggled for form such as Andrew Bishop and Sonny Parker are playing – all but guaranteeing our back 3 won’t get any ball.
With the scrum in such bad shape the Ospreys have relied on their talented backline to do the business – this isn’t going to happen now. With injuries to key players such as Phillips and Byrne in the backs it was going to be a tough ask against such a strong center partnership as Robers and Shanklin – but there is little hope for change in the midfield.
With the very average Tom Smith at 8, the struggling Cai Griffiths at tighthead and form 7 Holah dropped the pack is in for another tough ride.
Centre Jamie Roberts makes his first start since surgery on a long-term wrist injury, replacing Tom Shanklin.
The Ospreys promote Andrew Bishop, Jamie Nutbrown, Paul James and Ian Gough to the starting line-up.
All four started on the bench in Monday's 60-17 win over the Scarlets but get their turn to start at the Blues, with Nikki Walker, Mike Phillips and Ryan Jones dropping to the replacements.
With Walker named on the bench and Bishop starting, Ireland star Tommy Bowe switches from centre to wing.
Prop Duncan Jones is rested, so Ryan Bevington comes onto the bench alongside fellow prop Craig Mitchell.
The Ospreys are without Wales pair Shane Williams (shoulder) and full-back Lee Byrne (thumb), plus Jonathan Spratt (shoulder), Ben Lewis (neck), Ben John (wrist) and Conor McInerney (knee).
Williams could be fit for the Ospreys' final Heineken Cup group game against Toulon on 22 January, while Byrne is expected to be available for the Magners League clash away to Leinster on 7 January.
The Ospreys go into the Cardiff City Stadium clash in good form having thumped the Scarlets on Monday.
However, the west Wales side will only have had a four-day turnaround before facing the Blues after frozen pipes at the Liberty Stadium caused the Scarlets game to be delayed 24 hours from its original Boxing Day kick-off.
"We've been a little unfortunate in terms of the ability to train together on the field because of the weather since the players returned from international duty, so we've had to use game time as a vehicle to get this team back up to the level where we think they should be.
"It was great to get a positive result at the weekend, and there was a lot of good things on display, but... the win doesn't mean anything if we don't back it up come Friday."
