Heineken ambassador and Welsh coach Rob Howley picks the Ospreys as the team from amongst the Welsh regions with a real chance of making the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. The top of the table clash between the Ospreys and Clermont this weekend could well be decisive and Howley has picked Dan Biggar as their key player directing the game from fly half.
"The Ospreys are in great shape at the moment but they need to keep their form over the next two weeks to claim a spot in the Heineken Cup knock-out stages. Their game against Clermont this weekend will be a tightly fought battle, but I really fancy the Ospreys chances.
Dan Biggar will be key to an Ospreys win, he's a maturing player and gets better and better every time I see him. As Welsh coaches, we've spoke to Dan about the mix of his game, and what he needs to do to push for an international jersey. There's no doubt about his formidable kicking which has a huge influence on the Ospreys team, and he's putting plenty of work in on his running game which is improving dramatically. He's always learning and over time is developing this side to his game so that it gives him and the Ospreys a real threat from fly half.
Biggar is certainly in contention for the Welsh jersey and providing some competition for the current number 10 Stephen Jones. He may not be quite the finished article at the moment, but he's been instrumental in recent weeks, and the Ospreys are really benefitting from Dan's performances so far in the Heineken Cup.
Ospreys will need to go out and play with a winning attitude and the self-belief that they can beat Clermont if they want to be in control of their own destiny when they play Leicester at home in Round 6. They performed with confidence over the Christmas period and they need to approach the huge task of the French giants in the same way. They can't have the attitude that a bonus point is enough, although this will certainly be on their minds if they are behind on the score board in the last ten minutes. That's what makes the Heineken Cup such a special competition and this weekend will be no different with the Ospreys having everything to play for."