Ospreys Team To Face Saracens

The Ospreys team to face Saracens in the EDF Energy Cup on Saturday 22nd March at Millennium Stadium, kick off at 5.15pm, will be as follows:-

The Ospreys team to face Saracens in the EDF Energy Cup on Saturday 22nd March at Millennium Stadium, kick off at 5.15pm, will be as follows:- 15 Lee Byrne 14 Johnny Vaughton 13 Sonny Parker 12 Gavin Henson 11 Shane Williams 10 James Hook 9 Mike Phillips 8 Ryan Jones (Capt) 7 Marty Holah 6 Jonathan Thomas 5 Ian Evans 4 Alun Wyn Jones 3 Adam Jones 2 Richard Hibbard 1 Paul James Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett 17 Duncan Jones 18 Lyndon Bateman 19 Filo Tiatia 20 Justin Marshall 21 Daniel Biggar 22 Andrew Bishop  Injury and squad availability news Fourplayers are not available for selection this week: Barry Williams is undergoing a four-month rehabilitation programme following keyhole surgery on his hip in January and will not play again this season Ian Gough is rested following the Six Nations and will be available next weekend Nikki Walker is recovering from an ankle injury picked up in training with Scotland last week He is expected to be available for selection next weekend Shaun Connor misses the match after suffering an eye injury playing for Bridgend in the Welsh Premiership last weekend. He is expected to be available for selection next weekend Head Coach Lyn Jones commented as follows: "Everyone is looking forward to Saturday's match, we had some great experiences in this tournament last season, not least on semi-final day when we produced a fine performance to see off Cardiff Blues. Ultimately we were disappointed to lose to Leicester Tigers in the final at Twickenham, but that has just made us more determined to go one better this season. Our international players are back with us and understandably spirits are high at the moment. We've had to take a lot of things into consideration when naming the side for this match, and faced some tough decisions based not only on what the players have gone through but also the busy schedule that lies ahead, making sure they are fit and healthy for all the big games that we have coming up. We face a Saracens side that will be well drilled and well prepared, as always, with a distinct Australian flavour. Their build up to this match will have been less affected by international call-ups than is the case for us, and although league results have dipped lately, their form in the cups are a clear sign of how dangerous they can be. We know that they will provide us with a real challenge, as would be the case with any opposition at the semi-final stage of a cup competition, so we have to be sure that we are focused entirely on the challenge that lies in store as opposed to dwelling on what has already gone. Both teams will have some of the game's top stars on show, so it looks likely to be a real fire-cracker of a match for even the most casual of supporters."  Forthcoming fixtures are as follows: Magners League - Friday 28th March - Ospreys V Ulster - Liberty Stadium - 7.10pmHeineken Cup - Sunday 6th April - Saracens V Ospreys - Vicarage Road - 12.30pmMagners League - Saturday 12th April - Newport Gwent Dragons V Ospreys -Rodney Parade - 5.30pmMagners League - Saturday 19th April - Munster V Ospreys - Musgrave Park - 7.30pm