No Y11 derby but rivalries resume in Cardiff

It might no longer be the "Y11 derby" but there is still plenty at stake when Cardiff host Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship (URC) Welsh derby on Friday night (19:00 BST).

There has been drama this week concerning the two sides when the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced its controversial plan of selling Cardiff to Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, had fallen through.

That happened just 48 hours before the two sides face each other in a crucial league game.

On Friday night the focus will be on-field matters, with Cardiff aiming to keep their play-off dreams alive and Ospreys trying to stop them.

So some good old-fashioned Welsh rivalry on the pitch played in front of a near capacity crowd in Cardiff.

Rather than dealing with tiresome and continual Welsh chaotic rugby politics off the field. Even if it is just for a couple of hours.

Cardiff's remarkable comeback win against the Scarlets has kept Corniel van Zyl's side in the top half of the table in seventh place.

Seven points separate the teams placed between second and ninth in the battle for the top eight spots, with three league matches remaining.

After starting the season strongly with five wins from their first six matches, Cardiff have won just two of their past five league games.

Ospreys will become the latest Welsh side to try and scupper Cardiff's hopes and complete the league double after winning in Bridgend on New Year's Day.

Cardiff have beaten Ospreys just once in their past five meetings and Ospreys have not lost against the Blue and Blacks at the Arms Park since August 2007.

Van Zyl is wary of what happened in January.

"They physically dominated us in all aspects of that game," said Cardiff's South African coach.

"That was definitely one of our worst performances this season in terms of what we want to achieve and what we pride ourselves on."

It has been a good week so far for Ospreys with the offer to sign Welsh rugby's Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) that would guarantee their survival until at least 2028.

Head coach Mark Jones believes the future is looking brighter.

"The news is great regardless of who you're playing on the weekend but with it being a derby, it's a big week anyway," said Jones.

"Cardiff have been brilliant all year, they started the season with a bang.

"They've maintained their momentum, picked up good results and put themselves in the driving seat."

Ospreys' play-off hopes are almost over after URC results last weekend, despite an impressive 21-17 win against Sharks and being unbeaten in six of their past eight league matches.

Jones says damaging Cardiff's play-off hopes is not a motivation for his side.

"We're looking at this as an opportunity," said Jones.

"We need to be there on that final weekend with something to play for if somebody does not get their work done.

"So it's irrelevant who we're playing. It's more around our motivation rather than trying to upset one of your rivals."

This fixture has also been billed as the Welsh Shield decider with Ospreys having the prospect of being crowned champions after the game.

The URC Welsh Shield is a sub-competition within the league, contested by the four Welsh professional teams Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets.

It acts as a Welsh "domestic championship" determining local bragging rights and is separate from the main URC league table. Cardiff are the current holders.

Rather than being decided on league positions, the winner is decided by head-to-head matches, determined by results in the six derby games played between the Welsh sides during the regular season.

Ospreys and Cardiff are the only teams who can win this season's shield with both sides currently on 16 points.

Ospreys are unbeaten against Welsh rivals in the URC this season and Jones' team have a game in hand when they face Scarlets on Saturday, 9 May in Bridgend.

So Ospreys will receive the trophy at the Arms Park if they win on Friday night.

Injury-hit Cardiff are missing Wales trio Josh Adams, Mason Grady and James Botham with van Zyl making five starting changes.

Wing Bowen replaces Grady who suffered a fractured thumb, while back-row duo Taine Basham and Dan Thomas start with Alex Mann dropping to the bench.

Lock Rory Thornton and prop Javan Sebastian replace George Nott and Keiron Assiratti, while two hookers - Evan Lloyd and Daf Hughes - have been named on the bench.

Wales prop Gareth Thomas is fit to start for Ospreys after passing a head injury assessment (HIA) but fellow loose-head Garyn Phillips is missing.

Sharks were angry last weekend that injuries to Thomas and Phillips led to uncontested scrums for the final quarter.

Thomas was forced off in Bridgend and was not able to return to the field last Saturday, but has been deemed fit to feature six days later.

Ospreys have also named wing Luke Morgan who has suffered online abuse after his challenge on Sharks' Ethan Hooker resulted in the Springboks wing suffering a dislocated shoulder in the act of scoring a try.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, B Thomas, Jennings, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Thornton, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: Hughes, Southworth, Assiratti, Nott, E Lloyd, Mann, Bevan, I Lloyd.

Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, Watkin, K Williams, L Morgan; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; G Thomas, Parry, Botha, R Davies, Smith, Ratti, J Morgan (capt), M Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, S Thomas, Warren, Sutton, Moriarty, Deaves, Hardy, Nagy.

Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales).

TMO: Morne Ferreira (South Africa).