The Ospreys have opened their last three Heineken Cup campaigns on the road but this time they will start on home soil when the meet French giants Biarritz (KO 3.40pm) at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
The Ospreys have won their last 12 home tournament matches since drawing 22-22 with Stade Français in 2007, with their last defeat at the Liberty Stadium in the competition coming back in December 2005, and captain Alun Wyn Jones is banking on that home advantage helping them get off to a winning start against the 2006 and 2010 Heineken Cup finalists.
Biarritz Olympique are also the club who ended the region’s 2009 / 2010 Heineken Cup dream in a dramatic San Sebastien quarter-final, winning 29-28 en route to the final in Paris despite the Ospreys outscoring them three tries to two.
"The big difference from recent previous Heineken Cup tournaments is that this time we are at home," said Jones.
"That could be a deciding factor, though we are very aware we then have Treviso away the following weekend.
"There are a couple of potential banana skins in the first few rounds because, while we could get off to a flier, we are also conscious that on their day both Biarritz and Treviso are sure to prove very strong opposition.
"We have got to three quarter-finals in the last four years - and we cannot get any closer than we did at Biarritz - I like to think that first and foremost we can get out of our Pool and then see where we go from there.
"That quarter-final in Spain is a painful memory as we felt we did enough to win that game but we have laid that to rest and just got on with things. This match is not about revenge, more redemption.
"And while we did play France in the World Cup semi-finals and Biarritz had a couple of players out there that day that match does not come into it. Our sole focus is representing the Ospreys and attempting to get further in the tournament.”
Source: www.ercrugby.com