Magners League semi-final:The omens are stacked in the favour of Ospreys ahead of the Magners League semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, but neither coach is paying much attention to the formbook.
Ospreys secured second in the league with a strong finish to the season proper, winning four of their last five games. They are uneaten at their own ground since September when they lost 11-18 to table-toppers Leinster, while Warriors will have to win at tomorrow's venue for the first time ever if they are to claim a final berth.
Having lost just three times on the road this season, the Scots have the best away record in the league, but they travel without their hugely influential international scrumhalf Chris Cusiter, who has failed to recover from a knee injury.
Mark McMillan stands in for Cusiter alongside Dan Parks, while the good news is the return of Max Evans to the centre and John Barclay to that formidable backrow comprising Kelly Brown and Johnnie Beattie.
Cusiter's absence is by no means ideal, though coach Sean Lineen feels he has an able replacement in McMillan, who has lifted the Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership titles with Wasps.
"It just shows the strength in depth of the squad. Cus hasn't managed to pull through but what a replacement we've got in Mark McMillan," Lineen said today.
"He's been a fantastic player for us all season."
Despite it being late in a long season, Lineen insists the new knockout system has reinvigorated his side. "It feels as though it's starting again. The enthusiasm and energy and the way we've gone about this week has been very encouraging."
Sean Holley is positive too, if a little cautious, and has urged his side to be more clincial in possession.
"We've had a good run of results at the Liberty, we have won eight on the bounce and have beaten good teams (in) Leicester, Munster and Cardiff Blues during that run, but we realise that will count for nothing on Friday night.
"Glasgow have a good squad, there are plenty of internationals in their ranks and they almost edged us out of second place, so while we are glad to be at home, there is still a lot of work to be done. It will be a difficult night and we know that we will have to raise our game another level again from where were at last weekend against the Dragons.
"We need to be more clinical about things, that is obvious to everyone. We're pleased with the way we are playing, our game plan and system is good, and what has been particularly pleasing has been the number of line breaks we are regularly making. But, line breaks aren't enough to win games, as we saw against Biarritz.
"We've been drumming that message home to the boys, it's about attention to detail. That is the difference between winning and losing when you get to this stage of a competition."
Holley is likely to need Ireland's Tommy Bowe and Welshman Shane Williams to finish those chances if his side are to face either Munster or Leinster in the final.
Ospreys (v Glasgow Warriors):Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones; Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas; Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (capt)
Replacements:Ed Shervington, Ryan Bevington, Ian Gough, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Gareth Owen, Nikki Walker
Glasgow Warriors (v Ospreys):Bernardo Stortoni; Rob Dewey, Max Evans, Graeme Morrison, DTH van der Merwe; Dan Parks, Mark McMillan; Ed Kalman, Fergus Thomson, Moray Low; Tim Barker, Alastair Kellock (capt); Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie
Replacements:Pat MacArthur, Kevin Tkachuk, Dan Turner, James Eddie, Hefin O'Hare, Duncan Weir, Colin Shaw