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European Challenge Cup: Ospreys v Connacht
Venue: Brewery Field, Bridgend Date: Sunday, 7 December Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sport website and app.
Ospreys coach Justin Tipuric hopes uncertainty over the future of Welsh professional rugby will soon be over, admitting "there is only so much you can take".
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced in October that it intends to cut from four men's teams – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets – to three by 2027.
The governing body wants one side in the east, Cardiff and the west, which effectively pits Ospreys against Scarlets.
There has been speculation that Ospreys owners Y11 Sports and Media could takeover Cardiff, helping the WRU achieve its desire for consensus and avoiding a tender process.
Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley posted on social media: "I'm getting a few people asking me if I'm going to comment on the various rumours going around.
"As always, no, we don't comment on rumours. Also as always, if and when there's anything to say, we will let everyone know."
However, the uncertainty has raised fears of star players at all four clubs – including Ospreys Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake – leaving Wales when contracts expire in the summer.
Legendary former flanker Tipuric, who retired from playing at the end of the last season, admits the situation is draining.
"It's not ideal. Unfortunately Welsh rugby has been like that for a good few years," said the defence coach.
"It's just a bit frustrating that it's like this all the time; you wonder why it has been like this with uncertainty for the last eight to 10 years, whether mergers or strikes.
"There is only so much that you can take, but hopefully it will come to an end soon and Welsh rugby will grow again and get back to the place it should be.
"The one good thing is that we have got an unbelievable group of people here that stick together and look at the positives. We are able to represent our region and that's so big for us."
Ospreys start the Challenge Cup against Connacht in Bridgend on Sunday before a trip to France to face Top 14 strugglers Montauban.
In January they travel to Parma to face Zebre before ending against Montpellier at the Brewery Field.
Mark Jones' men qualified for the knockout stages last season and beat Scarlets in Swansea before suffering a home loss to Lyon in the quarter-finals.
The Connacht fixture will set the tone for their bid to go further in the second-tier tournament.
"Home games are very important in Europe - if you don't win them and you have no chance of getting through," said Tipuric.
"Connacht did well last year by winning their group games to get in a position to kick on, as did we, but we didn't get over that Lyon hurdle.
"The way we lost that game wasn't nice, and I got injured as well! We could have kicked on, but they ground us down.
"The boys have mentioned that there is still a feeling of frustration from last year and it would be nice to go a couple of steps further."
Dan Edwards starts in Bridgend fresh from wearing the 10 jersey in all four of Wales' autumn internationals.
Ospreys produced a spirited performance in a 19-17 defeat by Edinburgh last Saturday in the United Rugby Championship when without 11 players because of the Test against South Africa.
Edwards, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, loose-head prop Garyn Phillips, lock Rhys Davies, blind-side flanker James Ratti and open-side flanker Harri Deaves start on their returns with loose-head Gareth Thomas on the bench.
Hooker Lake is given the weekend off after his Test exertions when starting four times and stepping up as captain after the loss of Morgan.
Connacht, who beat Sharks 44-17 in Galway last weekend, are captained by Ireland and Lions centre Bundee Aki.
Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, Boshoff, Cokanasiga, Hopkins; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; Phillips, Parry (capt), Botha, R Davies, R Smith, Ratti, Deaves, Moriarty
Replacements: L Lloyd, G Thomas, Henry, Sutton, G Evans, L Davies, Nagy, Giles
Connacht: Naughton; Jennings, Gilbert, Aki (capt), Treacy; Carty, Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham, Joyce, D O'Connor, J Murphy, S O'Brien, Jansen
Replacements: de Buitlear, Duggan, Aungier, D Murray, Boyle, Reilly, S Walsh, West
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy & Cyrille Boulay (France)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)
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