Ospreys not giving up on URC mission impossible

It was only a couple of seasons ago Ospreys were given a 2% chance of reaching the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.

That was with one game to go, and on that occasion, the Welsh side overcame the odds to beat Cardiff and finish in the top eight.

Now the same odds are being provided by the URC predictor for the Ospreys with four games remaining, starting with the home match against Sharks in Bridgend on Saturday night (19.45 BST).

Prior to 15th round of matches Ospreys find themselves 10 points adrift of the top eight, knowing they will have to win all their remaining games, probably with maximum bonus points, and rely on other results.

Highly unlikely. In fact practically impossible. But they have not given up hope.

"We've got four games left which we're excited about and we're going to attack them and try to finish as strongly as we can," said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.

"We'll try to get as many wins as we possibly can and extend our season."

Ospreys turn their attention back to the league after they were denied in the Challenge Cup last-16 tie against Ulster in Belfast having had a late Kieran Hardy try controversially ruled out for a forward pass.

"We've tried our very best to keep both fronts going all season," said Jones.

"We've rotated the squad and tried to share the workload with all the travel in the URC.

"Up until a couple of narrow defeats, we've done a good job of being right in it."

Sharks are in a similar position to Ospreys, knowing they will have to win all their games to sneak into the top eight.

"We're expecting a team that's representative of their quality," said Jones.

"They're full of Springboks, full of experience. We're looking forward to the challenge but we know it's a big one and we're going to need to be at our absolute best to get anything out of the game.”

Sharks will be led by Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen.

"We know we're building something here and we know we basically need to win four out of four games to stand a chance to get into the top eight," said Esterhuizen.

"The group is motivated and we're looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"We haven't been the best on the road this year, but that's something we're looking to rectify."

Ospreys will be led by Wales captain Jac Morgan, while Ross Moriarty returns on the replacements bench after serving his suspension.

Head coach JP Pietersen has given 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya a first start at full-back.

Double South African winning captain Siya Kolisi has been named in the squad for the short tour but will not feature in Bridgend, while Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth is set to miss the rest of the season because of a hip problem.

Ospreys: Hopkins; L Morgan, Bishoff, Watkin, Kasende; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Parry, Botha, Sutton, R Smith, Ratti, J Morgan (capt), Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, Phillips, Warren, Moriarty, Deaves, Morgan-Williams, P Cokanasiga, Walsh.

Sharks: Siyaya; E van der Merwe, Malan, Esterhuizen (capt), Hooker; J Smith, Hendrikse; Ganyane, Mbatha, Jacobs, Jenkins, van Heerden, Buthelezi, V Tshituka, M Tshituka,

Replacements: Swart, Nche, Koch, Rahl, Hatton, Davids, Masuku, Julius.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Marcus Caudle (WRU).

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).