Ospreys squad hope to make fans proud against Lions

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones says his squad will attempt to do the under-fire region proud when they face Lions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday night in Bridgend.

Welsh rugby was plunged into fresh crisis after it emerged Ospreys owners - Y11 Sport & Media - were the preferred bidders in a deal to purchase Cardiff from the Welsh Rugby Union.

The WRU has proposed cutting one of its four men's professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - to the dismay of fans across the country.

Ospreys had a stormy meeting with chief executive Lance Bradley where "one or two of the players" walked out early, while a full contact training session was cancelled.

Jones - who makes 10 changes to the starting XV for the game - says it has been a tough week and not ideal preparation but says his side will try to focus on matters on the field.

"I'm confident that on Friday night, the Ospreys supporters will see a group of men and women working on behalf of the Ospreys trying to get a result," said Jones.

"Hopefully they'll be proud of the effort they're seeing from the group."

Lions assistant coach Wessel Roux says he is expecting an Ospreys backlash from the off-the-field controversy.

"There's a lot of uncertainty in Welsh rugby at the moment," said Wessels.

"I think everybody wants to fight and put their best foot forward. They'll be an absolutely hungry side and will want to make a statement."

This could prove a crucial battle for both sides in the race to finish in the top eight and reach the URC play-offs, with the Lions currently seventh and the Ospreys ninth.

Centre Keiran Williams will make his 100th appearance in the much-changed side from the team that lost in the Challenge Cup against Montpellier.

Only wing Daniel Kasende, centre Owen Watkin, prop Steffan Thomas, lock Rhys Davies and number eight Morgan Morris keep their starting spots.

Wales captain Dewi Lake and fellow internationals Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy, James Ratti and Harri Deaves return, alongside Australian lock Ryan Smith.

Lions centre Henco van Wyk will make his 50th appearance for the South African side.

Ospreys: Hopkins; Kasende, Watkin, K Williams, Giles; Edwards, Hardy; S Thomas, Lake (capt), Botha, R Davies, R Smith, Ratti, Deaves, Morgan.

Replacements: L Lewis, C Jones, Hire, L Jones, Moriarty, Morse, Morgan-Williams, Cokanasiga.

Johannesburg Lions: Horn; Davids, van Wyk, Mills, R Kriel; M van den Berg, Smith; Kotze, PJ Botha, Ntlabakanye, Schoeman, Nothnagel, R du Plessis, Hlekani, F Horn (capt).

Replacements: Brandon, RF Schoeman, C van Vuuren, E Oosthuizen, Landsberg, Cairns, Pead, E Cronje.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Lucas Yendle (Wales)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy).