Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy is warning his side not to become distracted by the Judgement Day hype ahead of their match against Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium.

Tandy’s team have won their last three GUINNESS PRO12 matches and have not been defeated in the competition since a trip to table-topping Glasgow Warriors in round 15.

Whereas the Blues, whose only Judgement Day loss was against Ospreys two years ago, head into this match on the back of consecutive 36-17 defeats against Ulster and the Warriors.

Cardiff don’t have the best of records against Ospreys, losing the last seven encounters between the two sides in the GUINNESS PRO12, including a 26-15 defeat at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season.

And while Tandy is excited by the prospect of Judgement Day III, he remains focused on the job at hand – the final play-off push.

“It's going to be a great occasion for regional rugby with over 50,000 supporters present at the Millennium Stadium but it's absolutely essential that we don't allow ourselves to be distracted by the sideshow,” he said.

“We have to be 100 per cent focused on ourselves and on controlling all the factors we can around the match to ensure we can work towards the outcome we need on the day.

“It's a derby match and there's a lot of focus on the rivalry and everything but in reality it's just another game, no more or less important than any of the others we still have to play.

"We've got three more games in the regular season and we are the only Welsh side still in play-off contention. We have to keep on going, pursuing excellence, and looking to take our season through to the end of May.”

Ospreys make three changes to the team that collected a 33-13 bonus-point win over Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo in round 19.

Outside centre Ben John joins Josh Matavesi in the midfield while there is also a change in the front row as loosehead prop Nicky Smith comes into the team ahead of Ryan Bevington.

The final change takes place in the second row, where Tyler Ardton makes way for Lloyd Peers, with the former occupying the bench.

There is a significant change for Cardiff as prop Gethin Jenkins returns to GUINNESS PRO12 action to skipper the side.

Joaquin Tuculet and Lucas Amorosino make comebacks on the wings after spells out injured, while Rhys Patchell returns at full-back and Gareth Anscombe makes a positional change to fly half where he will form a half-back partnership with Lloyd Williams.

A new-look front row trio will see Jenkins pack down alongside Kristian Dacey and Craig Mitchell, who is in line for his first league appearance for the Blues since late November.

Chris Dicomidis and fit-again Filo Paulo are paired in the second row while Josh Turnbull is named in the back row.

And coach Dale McIntosh will be hoping those changes can boost his side as they look to bounce back from a difficult run, with just two wins in their last seven league fixtures.

"It's going to be a great spectacle and big occasion at Judgement Day III,” he said.

"The table doesn't lie and I have a lot of respect for Ospreys and the management. They are a very complete side that is well coached at the set piece and they play at a pace that is hard to control.

"We understand to get near them and compete we have to raise our game and base our game around tenacity and physicality.

“We also have to maintain our discipline, because that's let us down on occasion, because they have pace and a fluid game.”

At Millennium Stadium, 2.30pm Live on BBC WALES
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 123rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas, Gwyn Morris (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)