| Venue: Swansea.com Stadium Date: Saturday, 24 September Kick-off: 19:35 BST |
| Coverage: Live on S4C. Match report and highlights available on the BBC Sport app and website. Highlights from Scrum V, Sunday 25 September at 18:00 BST. Available online and on-demand. |
George North shifts from wing to centre, while Dan Lydiate is the Ospreys’ first-ever appearance as a flanker when Ospreys take on Lions in the United Rugby Championship.
Jac Morgan’s substitution by Lydiate is one among four personnel changes made to the side, who drew 23/23 with Scarlets.
Max Nagy, Luke Morgan (wing) and Jack Walsh (fly-half) start.
Joe Hawkins and Owen Watkin are not included.
Anscombe, Watkin, and Morgan are both ruled out due to head injuries sustained against Scarlets. Hawkins, Morgan, and Morgan will be replaced by six forwards, and two backs.
Wayne Pivac, Wales’ head coach, has played North in the center during the 2021 Six Nations tournament. He also played North on the 2022 South Africa summer tour.
Toby Booth, Ospreys’ head coach, said that they have had a conversation regarding Wayne’s perceptions of him.
“It is not necessarily about the position. It’s about balance. It’s about who he is around and how he can make an impact.
“We want to be less fussy about the shirt numbers. Modern rugby players need a lot more transferability and adaptability.
George is someone we see as someone who can play both positions, and he will at times play in both. That is a great luxury.
Ospreys have had their backline reshuffle, with North moving to form a new partnership with Michael Collins in the centre. Collins started against Scarlets at fullback.
Nagy begins at 15, with Morgan coming in on wing. After his late touchline conversion, Walsh is the fly-half for Ospreys. rescued a draw against Scarlets His competitive debut last week.
Wales squad members Alex Cuthbert and Sam Parry are getting back in shape.
Andries Coetzee, the full-back for Lions, will be playing in his 100th game of first-class.
Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan; George North, Michael Collins and Keelan Gles; Jack Walsh, Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin and Tomas Francis.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Garyn Phillips, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Will Griffiths, Jac Morgan, Reuben Morgan Williams, Joe Hawkins.
Lions: Andries Coetzee; Edwill van der Merwe, Zander du Plessis, Marius Louw, Quan Horn; Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Ruben Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel (capt), Sibusiso Sangweni, Emmanuel Tshituka, Franke Horn.
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Ruan Venter, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Sango Xamlashe.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU).
Assistant referees: Rhys Jones & Dai Cambourne (WRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).