Reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions Ospreys may have lost a host of internationals but head coach Steve Tandy insists the key to retaining their title lies elsewhere as they begin their defence against Treviso on Friday night.

Among those to have left the Liberty Stadium in the close season were prop Paul James who has signed for Bath, hooker Huw Bennett who moved to Lyon while legendary winger Shane Williams switched south Wales for Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars.

Wings Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker have also found pastures new, but Tandy believes he has the depth to cover for their departures and get their season off to the perfect start against the Italians.

Ashley Beck, who established himself as Welsh international last season, will start for Tandy’s side at centre but he will be without Adam Jones, Ryan Jones and Justin Tipuric.

Despite the trio’s absence, Tandy is hoping his next generation of stars can hit the ground running.

"Fingers crossed we will be talking about the next Justin Tipuric, Ashley Beck and James Kings of this world," said Tandy.

"We didn't know about these guys last year and they are internationals and hopefully we are talking about three or four more like that.

"When we flip back and look at last year, the key to our success of winning the RaboDirect PROI12 was our non-international players.

"They were really up to speed and we got a lot of victories around then and it's something we have to be positive about.

"We are going to have some indifferent form when you blood youngsters, but it's key to their learning.

"We may have to be patient but we still have a lot of experience within our group and when we do lose our internationals we still have a lot of experience.”

The two sides have met on eight previous occasions in all competitions and the Ospreys have never lost to an Italian side but came very close during their 26-all draw with Treviso in the European Cup last November.

The Italians have just one win to their name in 2012 and in order to get Treviso’s season off to a better start this time round, head coach Franco Smith has decided to line up full-back Kris Burton and fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo.

Tommaso Iannone is at centre and Luke McLean is winger, creating more options in kicking-play, and Smith believes this will bode well in what is likely to be slippery conditions.

Smith said: “In my opinion the team are ready to get cracking after a long and hard pre-season. They did well in the friendlies which we played and are well prepared but we know how hard this competition is and we’re trying to start off well and we don’t want to have any regrets.

“Every game mentally, and above all physically, we must take to the game well prepared so we can develop a culture of winning, but it will take more than one season to do that.

“We will try to give our best and compete well in every game we play.To start with we must try to do the things that we can control really well.”

At Stadio Monigo, 8.05pm local time, (7.05pm UK & Ireland).

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 22nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Giuseppe Vivarini, Andrea Spadoni (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)
Live on SportItalia and BBC Wales