Something has got to give on Sunday – barring a draw – when winless duo Ospreys and Benetton Treviso meet at the Stadio Monigo, and Steve Tandy is expecting a ferocious encounter.

The Ospreys head coach has led his side to three straight defeats in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season, without a try to show for their efforts.

They meet a Treviso side without a win in the competition since February but Tandy – without nine players in Wales’ Rugby World Cup squad and a further eight on the treatment table – knows securing that elusive victory will take a strong performance from his troops.

“It's going to be another real test for us this weekend,” he said. “Clearly we haven't had the start to the season that we would have wanted and when that happens, then it's easy to allow the pressure from outside to build.

“It's not going to get any easier, we have Treviso who can call on their Italian internationals again while next week we are home to Connacht who have only lost two players, but we know what we need to do.

“It's a test of character for a young group of players, but the desire, the effort, the pride and the commitment is there to put it right.”

Tandy can welcome Josh Matavesi into the team at inside centre, after his World Cup exploits with Fiji, while Sam Davies – who has scored all 33 of Ospreys’ points so far this season – takes the reins once more at fly-half.

Lloyd Ashley will captain the side alongside Rory Thornton in the second row, while Joe Bearman, Sam Underhill and Dan Baker make up the back row.

Treviso, meanwhile, are able to call on a number of international players after Italy left the World Cup at the pool stage.

Edoardo Gori is joined by James Ambrosini as half-backs, Tommaso Iannone and Sam Christie are in midfield and the back three features Jayden Hayward, Ludovico Nitoglia and Andrea Pratichetti.

Alberto De Marchi, Simone Ferrari and Davide Giazzon will make up the front row, with Duncan Naude and Jeff Montauriol behind them.

Robert Barbieri, Dean Budd and captain Alessandro Zanni will complete the XV and director of rugby Marius Goosen admits their visitors are much better than their league position would suggest.

“We can’t assess the Ospreys on their rankings – if we analyse their matches, they are playing really well and will be a tough game as it is every year,” he said.

“But we know we are on the right track, we are just missing the results.”

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At Stadio Monigo, 2.30pm local time (1.30pm UK & Ireland). Live on RAI Sport
Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU, 23rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano, Giorgio Sgardiolo (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Marco Cordelli (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)