Nicky Smith starts for the Ospreys when they face English champions Leicester in Friday’s Heineken Champions Cup pool encounter at Welford Road (8pm kick-off).
The loosehead was one of the shock omissions earlier this week when Wales named their squad for the Six Nations.
Smith has been in form, a point underlined by Ospreys head coach Toby Booth at the region’s midweek press call when he commented that the prop had been “unbelievably good” for the region this season.
But he saw only 35 minutes of action for Wales in the November Tests and has now been left out of the mix completely.
Read more: Today's rugby news as Scotland star faces sack and overlooked Wales player consoled
A group game against a side who scored 44 points while winning on the road against Clermont Auvergne last time isn’t the easiest challenge for Smith and the rest of the Ospreys pack.
It’s one that’s been made more testing by the absence of Wales prop Tomas Francis from the squad on duty in the east Midlands, with the tighthead missing out because of a family matter. The good news for Warren Gatland is that the issue won’t affect Francis’ availability for the Six Nations.
The Ospreys make two other changes from the side that defeated Montpellier in Swansea last time out.
Dewi Lake features at hooker, taking over from Scott Baldwin, while Reuben Morgan Williams starts at scrum-half, with Rhys Webb injured.
A priority for the visitors will be to watch their discipline against a side who defeated them at the Swansea.com Stadium barely a month ago.
“We need to make sure we don’t give away anything for free,” said Booth. “Welford Road is a tough place to go, and we’ll need to make everything count.
“Leicester are one of the form teams in Europe, as well as being English Champions, which means there’s a lot of things to overcome against a very good team.”
Gareth Thomas, Morgan Morris, George North and Keiran Williams are among those who’ll hope to add impact off the bench.
Ospreys: Cai Evans; Alex Cuthbert, Michael Collins, Joe Hawkins, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Davies, Justin Tipuric (capt), Jac Morgan.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Morgan Morris, Matthew Aubrey. Keiran Williams, George North
Read more:
The new life of Richard Hibbard, the Wales rugby warrior with a very different career now
Gatland reveals Wales exile may now return and one player changed his mind at last minute
New Slammed Welsh rugby documentary to air next week
Sam Warburton names future Wales captain and says Warren Gatland can stun Ireland
