Ospreys can move a step closer to earning home advantage in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup by beating Zebre in Parma.
Ospreys travel to Parma knowing that a win against Zebre gives them the chance to stay in Bridgend when hunting Challenge Cup glory.
Mark Jones' side are one of just three sides to have a perfect record in the second-tier European tournament thanks to bonus-point successes against Connacht and Montauban.
The top two seeds in the Challenge Cup earn home advantage until the final in Bilbao.
Ospreys are not just driven by earning qualification for the last 16, but by ensuring they take rivals out of their comfort zone at Brewery Field.
"You would never say that you can't win away from home in Europe - and if we end up with an away seeding we would still back ourselves - but we know that historically having home advantage against the best teams makes a huge difference," said coach Richard Kelly.
"The support and atmosphere in Bridgend lifts the players, so if we can give ourselves that opportunity it'd be amazing."
Victory in Italy would set them up for a group-stage finale against a Montpellier side who put their perfect record on the line against Connacht in France on Sunday.
Ospreys are boosted by the return of Reuben Morgan-Williams from a shoulder injury to be fellow Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy's back-up on the bench.
They beat Cardiff 33-22 in Bridgend on New Year's Day despite Hardy being their only fit specialist nine, with Keelan Giles moving in from the wing in the closing stages.
"We have to commend Keelan for what he did for us, learning to play at nine in the training week and how he delivered in the game," said coach Richard Kelly.
"It's credit to him and he is such a diligent guy who will put the team first. The boys appreciated what he did and so did the staff because it's not easy to put yourself out there in that scenario for a big game with a big crowd."
Head coach Jones makes just four changes to the XV that beat Cardiff with Wales captain Dewi Lake coming in to lead Ospreys at hooker.
Lock James Fender and number eight Morgan Morse are also promoted from the bench with centre Evardi Boshoff coming into midfield.
Ospreys go into the game buoyed by United Rugby Championship (URC) derby wins against Scarlets and Cardiff that have revived hopes of a push for the play-offs in the second half of the campaign.
"It has been a fantastic two weeks and the boys have really relished the opportunity to go up against players they know pretty well," said Kelly.
"They have really gone to the well for each other and that shows how close they are and how much effort they will put in for each other."
They face a Zebre side who lost both festive derbies to Benetton and then started 2026 with a 47-10 defeat by Glasgow in Scotland.
Ospreys beat Zebre 24-0 at Brewery Field in October, but lost 22-17 in Parma in 2024-25.
"Zebre have had wins this season against Montauban, Lions and Edinburgh so are a pretty good team, especially at home," said Kelly. "We are under no illusions about what sort of challenge it will be out there."
Ospreys will qualify for the knockout stages if the winner of the Saturday fixture between Montauban and Black Lion fails to score four tries.
If one side does earn a five-point haul then a single match point in Parma would put the Welsh club into the last 16.
How they line up
Zebre: Montemauri; Belloni, Bertaccini, Mazza, Gesi; da Re, Fusco; Hasa, di Bartolomeo, Nocera, Canali, Krumov (capt), Bianchi, Locatelli, Ferrari.
Replacements: Quattrini, Buonfiglio, Pieretto, Ortombina, Odiase, Dominguez, Zanon, Stavile.
Ospreys: Walsh; Hopkins, Boshoff, K Williams, Giles; D Edwards, Hardy; G Phillips, Lake (capt), Botha, Smith, Fender, Ratti, Deaves, Morse.
Replacements: L Lloyd, S Thomas, Hire, L Jones, G Evans, Morgan Williams, Watkin, Kasende.
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
Assistants: Rob McDowell (Sco), Jack Macneice (Ire)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Category: General Sports
