With ticket sales for the big Heineken Cup clash against Leicester Tigers already touching 11,000, the Ospreys are calling on supporters to "be the 16th man" when the Aviva Premiership giants roll into Ospreylia on Sunday 13th January (KO 3.00pm).
It’s a must-win game for the region, against their now familiar Heineken Cup rivals, and if past encounters are anything to go by then it is going to be an action packed affair with plenty of post-match talking points.
This is the fourth season that the two teams have been paired together in the pool stages, with the last two games between the sides at the Liberty Stadium seeing the Ospreys coming out on top, winning similar must win matches to progress to the next round – and at the expense of the Tigers themselves after the 17-12 win in 2010.
Victory at the Liberty for the Ospreys over four times Heineken Cup champions Toulouse in the last round of European fixtures means there’s everything to play for and Chief Operations Officer Andrew Hore is urging fans to support the cause at this massive clash.
“We really need our supporters to be the 16th man when Leicester visit the Liberty Stadium” he said.
“This is a massive fixture, our biggest of the season, and we need the stands packed full of passionate Ospreylians getting behind the cause. The team have been on a good run of late, playing well, and with big crowds at the Toulouse and Scarlets game, the impact on team performance has been notable.
“It’s the definition of a must-win game. We remain in contention in the pool and a win over Leicester would set us up for a dramatic last round the following weekend when we travel to Treviso.
“Pool Two is possibly the toughest in the competition with last season’s French T14 champions and Premiership runners-up, who have six Heineken Cup titles between them, ourselves who are the reigning PRO12 champions, and Treviso who we know are capable of beating anyone. At this stage three of the four still have every chance of progressing so these final two rounds are going to be massive.
“If everyone at the Ospreys, players, coaches and supporters alike, give everything for the cause I have no doubt that we can perform and beat another European giant.
“Tickets are selling well and it’s going to be a big crowd, let’s pack out the Liberty and make the crowd our 16th man.”
Tickets for the game are on sale now at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, online at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets and via the Ticket Hotline on 0844 815 6665.