Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy has warned his squad not to take their eye off the ball in a potentially pivotal month.

The Welsh region entertain Leinster Rugby at the Liberty Stadium on Friday as they chase a sixth consecutive GUINNESS PRO12 victory.

Yet they continue to play catch-up having lost five of their first six league matches of the season and face a big test of their top-four credentials against second-placed Leinster.

Dan Lydiate and Rhys Webb are among nine players sidelined by injury, while Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric are only fit enough to be named as replacements.

In addition, Ospreys have won just one of their last seven matches against Leinster but Tandy is eyeing victory this time out.

“This is the second game in a huge month for us, a period that we’ve all got to enjoy,” he said.

“Over the last two months we’ve shown no end of character and heart but, that is the minimum expected of anyone who wears the Ospreys shirt.

“That’s got to be backed up by the right attitudes and behaviours, day in, day out, in preparation during the week and on matchday, which will help ensure the boys reach their potential.

“It’s a relentless month and that’s what we’ve got to be as a group now, relentless. If we aren’t, we won’t get what we want from these games.

“Leinster had to deal with similar issues to ourselves at the start of the season due to their over contribution to the Rugby World Cup but have more than made up for that as they’ve played their way towards the top of the table.

“We know that we have to continue striving for excellence as a team, working hard as a collective, if we’re going to keep heading in the right direction ourselves, starting on Friday.”

Leinster have won six GUINNESS PRO12 encounters in a row, though are winless in Wales on their last four visits – a run that stretches back almost 12 months to the day.

Head coach Leo Cullen has made six changes from the side that beat Connacht last time out, which includes captain Isa Nacewa starting on the right wing.

Luke Fitzgerland and Luke McGrath are also fit to start, while Tadhg Furlong, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip come into the pack.

"I think you look at them over the last five weeks they've been very impressive," Leinster backs coach Girvan Dempsey says of Ospreys' recent performances.

"They're really starting to hit a vein of form. I know they're mid-table but they're moving up.

“They've had two very big wins over the last couple of weekends; going over to Scarlets and they come away with a one-point victory (26-27), and on the weekend there against Dragons (12-7).

"It's going to be a big task (against Ospreys) and we know it is. What we're trying to do is build on the performance from Munster into Connacht, and now we know if we want to be in the top four or even the top two come the end of the season these are the games we have to be winning.”

At Liberty Stadium, 7.45pm. Live on Sky Sports and BBC Wales
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 37th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Simon Rees (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)