Veteran Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb will captain the Ospreys for their crucial United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh on Saturday (7.35pm kick-off).
The 34-year-old takes over the captain's armband from the injured Justin Tipuric, who has undergone surgery on his foot and will not feature again this season.
Toby Booth's side simply have to win to maintain their slim hopes of reaching the end of season play-offs, but the reality is they are fighting to retain the Welsh Shield which would give them a place in next season's European Champions Cup.
The Ospreys have been outstanding on occasion this season but their inconsistency has prevented them from making a serious bid for a place in the last-eight.
Booth has selected a strong pack with Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake and centurion Tom Botha in the front-row, with Adam Beard partnering Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
Dan Lydiate packs down in the unfamiliar position of openside after Tipuric's injury with Rhys Davies on the blindside, and Morgan Morris at No. 8.
Webb links up with Owen Williams at half-back, while Keiran Williams partners with Michael Collins in midfield. In the back three, Iestyn Hopkins starts at full-back with George North and Luke Morgan on the wings.
“Edinburgh are a tough opposition," said Booth. "Like us, they’re a squad filled with internationals. They have some great ball carriers in the back row and can cause problems around the set piece, but we have some threats of our own and we’re ready for what is set to be a hard-fought fixture.”
Ospreys: Iesytn Hopkins; George North, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Owen Williams, Rhys Webb (C); Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Max Nagy.
