Ospreys v Blues (Sat)

Young knows the Ospreys is a must-win match for the Blues

Ospreys and Blues know a win at the Liberty Stadium is crucial if they are to secure a place in the end of season Magners League play-offs.

The Ospreys are currently fourth in the table with the Blues in fifth, having played a game fewer than their rivals.

Last weekend the Blues lost15-16 at home to Munster while the Ospreys were defeated 23-16 by Edinburgh.

Ospreys head coach Sean Holley has described the game as a “must win” for both teams.

“The Magners play-off is the thing that is right in front of everybody’s mind,” said Holley.

“But there’s always so much at stake with these games. There’s international selection in a World Cup year and it’s seen as a trial match.

“Bragging rights is always a big one but I think more importantly now it’s probably seen as a must win game for both teams.

“With the Blues losing at home last weeks it’s a game they feel they have to win and likewise we got tipped a little bit on Saturday by Edinburgh and we want to put that right straight away.

“It’s a massive game and we hope there will be a good turnout for it and it’s a great occasion.

“We know we’ve got some players who tend to produce in these games and we’ll be looking to some of those to do it again on Saturday.”

Blues coach Dai Young has no new injury worries ahead of a game in which he acknowledges is a must win game.

“This is a massive game for both teams. A win for them would probably put them safe into that top four,” said Young.

“A win for us would keep us in the hunt right until the end and that’s the important thing. It’s a massive game for us.

“If we have got any aspirations of getting into that top four it’s a game we simply have to win.

“It would be fair to say that mathematically we wouldn’t be out of it, but it would certainly be taken out of our hands and we’d have to rely on teams to drop points and to lose.

“It’s important we get this result otherwise it’s out of our hands.

“We don’t have a very good record down at the Liberty. We don’t go down there and win often.

“There’s great rivalry between both of us but a huge amount between both of us as well.

“They are a real quality squad, really well coached so we know we know we are going to be up against it.”

The last three encounters between the two teams in the Magners League have all been won by the home side on the day.

The Blues’ only previous victory on Ospreys soil was a 28-9 win at Liberty Stadium on 22 December 2005.

In the previous fifteen meetings between the two sides, Ospreys have won eight times with Blues victorious on seven occasions.

The sides have already met twice in the league and cup this season and honours are even.

Dai Young’s side won 27-25 in a thrilling clash on New Year’s Eve at Cardiff City Stadium while the Ospreys won 29-7 in the LV= Cup in January.

The Ospreys seven game winning run in all competitions ended with their 16-23 defeat to Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The Blues have lost two of their last three matches in the Magners League but they have won their last three away games against fellow Welsh regions.

Ospreys: tbc

Blues: tbc

Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)