Byrne keen to impress

The British & Irish Lions full back completed his first 80 minutes since September for the Ospreys in the New Year's Day Welsh derby victory over Cardiff Blues following a foot injury. The double Wales Grand Slammer missed the entire autumn series, labelling his lengthy lay-off as 'murder'.

And he admits he is on a mission to impress Welsh boss Gatland ahead of the championship opener with arch rivals England on February 6 in the Ospreys' European clashes with Clermont Auvergne and Leicester Tigers.

"It's good to be back and perfect timing with the Six Nations coming up. I want to put a marker down by putting together a run of games and get my match fitness back," said Byrne.

"I want to find some form and get back to the level I was at before the Lions tour. I'll be trying to do that with a bang in the next couple of weeks. But my first goal in 2010 is to stay injury-free but I want to be back playing for Wales in the Six Nations.

"We've big matches in the Six Nations and they're the games you want to be playing in. We can't look ahead to the England game just yet as the Ospreys have massive games with Clermont and Leicester first. After that, then we'll focus on Twickenham."