No panic for the Ospreys

But, having only emerged with a losing bonus point in France, Jones knows there can be no margin for error when he leads his team against current English Premiership leaders London Irish at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night.

Irish got off to a flying start by beating two-times champions Munster in the opening game last weekend and will be hoping to consolidate their lead at the top of Pool 3.

"We felt we lost the game In Toulon rather than being beaten. We were happy to come away from France with a point, but very disappointed to lose," admitted Jones.

"Munster are in the same boat as us after the first round, but I'm sure they won't be pushing the panic buttons - and neither will we. We have done it the hard way two or three times before in this tournament and I know we have the ability to get out of our Pool again.

"We have matured each year in the Heineken Cup and our performances have got better. But we've plateaued at the quarter-finals and we are looking to improve and move on to the semi-finals and better.

"In the Pool we are in you just have to try to get out of it. Then you can re-group for the knock-out stage and see where you end up.

"London Irish will present a different type of threat to Toulon. Their attack is more likely to come from their back three rather than their front row.

"It is going to be attritional at the start before things get sorted out and the game begins to open up a bit. It is going to be a big night and we all know that losing at home isn't an option."

Jones faces a vital personal battle at the line-out against the much heralded partnership of Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy in an area of the game that could determine which team comes out on top. But the Ospreys skipper has some good memories of facing Kennedy before on a big stage.

"We met in an international once before and it was one of the few games I've played for Wales that we had a 100% line-out return. It would be nice to do that again," said Jones.

"Nick and Bob are renowned for their line-out expertise and I've never met them before as a pair."

It was the Ospreys' lack of accuracy and ability to close down the game in the final five minutes that cost them their just reward in Toulon, with Wales outside half Dan Biggar coming in for criticism for missing two crucial kicks and poor game management.

But forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys said the coaching team and players were backing Biggar to bounce back this weekend and prove his critics wrong.

"We should have closed the game out and there are several issues we have to address. I'm sure that Dan will pummel himself for a few days, but then dust himself off and come back better for the experience," said Humphreys.

"You have to have the right personality to play at No 10 and Dan certainly has that. We are fully supportive of him and we are going to stick with him because we love the kid."