Second-placed Ospreys travel to Italian side Zebre on Friday looking to keep the pressure on league leaders Munster at the top of the Guinness PRO12. What’s at stake? Both Zebre and Ospreys will be approaching Fridays tie desperate for a win, but in very different circumstances. With only one win in 11 Zebre Rugby bottom of the Guinness PRO12 table but a win could move them above their Italian rivals Benetton Treviso who are two points above them. At the other end of the league table, Ospreys are hot on the tails of leaders Munster and have shown no sign of sitting back in their title chase. Having not lost a game in the Guinness PRO12 since their away loss at Munster Rugby on November 4th their confidence is brimming and they are sure to go all guns blazing on their trip Parma. Team news (Zebre) Only 12 players remained at the Zebre camp this week with the rest off on international duty and with a further six players injured Zebre Rugby find themselves thin on selection. They may well award three off the bench debuts to South African prop, Bartholomeus Le Roux and two Italian permit players Adriano Daniele and Davide Fragnito who join Zebre Rugby from Fiamme Oro Rugby and Lyons Piacenza respectively. Team news (Ospreys) With a growing injury list and 14 players unavailable due to international duty, Ospreys will put out almost an entirely different team to the one that beat Connacht 29-7 at the Liberty Stadium in January. Fly-half Luke Price makes his first PRO12 start while Matthew Aubrey will make his PRO12 debut if he comes off the bench. Talking points: Ospreys coach Chris Tandy is keen to use the on-going Six Nations as a platform to test their own strength in depth and allow players to step up and show their worth. He said: “This time of the year is always a great opportunity for players to come in and show what they are about and we‘ll be looking at some of the boys in this group to see how they take their chance. “We know what’s at stake, if we can get the performance level where it needs to be over the next four weeks, it can really set us up for an exciting end of season. “It’s an exciting mix if I’m honest. There’s a real enthusiasm around the group at the moment, training has had an edge to it. Everyone knows what the standard is that is expected of them over this period and can’t wait to get going.” Key battle: Zebre captain and second row Quintin Geldenhuys will have a lot on his chest on Friday taking charge of an inexperienced side desperate to snatch a win. But the 35-year-old does have plenty of experience especially compared to the 21-year-old Adam Beard who will be in the second row for the visitors. Beard has made 11 appearances for the Swansea-outfit so far this season and will be looking to get his side on the front foot at the setpiece. Key stat: Ospreys have scored the most tries (51) in this year’s Guinness PRO12 which is 11 more than league leaders Munster with Leinster the second most profilic in attack with 49 tries. Did you know? Ospreys have only lost once to Zebre Rugby in their nine previous encounters when they were downed 30-27at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in 2014. Zebre Top points scorer: 66-Carlo Canna Top try scorer: 4- Giovanbattista Venditti, Dries Van Schalkwyk Ospreys Top points scorer: 71- Sam Davis Top try scorer: 5- Ben John Zebre: Kurt Baker, Mattia Bellini, Thomas Boni, Matteo Pratichetti, Lloys Greeff, Serafin Bordoli, William Palazzani, Federico Ruzza, Johan Meyer, Derick Minnie, Valerio Bernabo, Quintin Geldenhuys, Guillermo Roan, Oliviero Fabiani, Bruno Postiglioni Replacements: Adriano Daniele, Andrea De Marchi, Bartholomeus Le Roux, Gideon Koegelenberg, David Fragnito, Carlo Engelbrecht, Faialaga Afamasaga, Maicol Azzolini Ospreys: Dan Evans, Ben John, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Dafydd Howells, Luke Price, Tom Habberfield, Paul James, Sam Parry, Rhodri Jones, Adam Beard, Lloyd Ashley, Tyler Ardron, Sam Underhill, Dan Baker Replacements: Hugh Gustafson, Gareth Thomas, Daniel Suter, Rory Thornton, Olly Cracknell, Matthew Aubrey, Hanno Dirksen, Jonathan Spratt Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 9, Zebre won 1, Ospreys won 8. At Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 8pm local time (7pm UK & Ireland) Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 48th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (SRU, Stefano Bolzonella (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)
