Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy is refusing to get carried away with his side’s impressive start to the season, admitting their next two matches will provide the acid test.

Tandy’s troops are unbeaten in the RaboDirect PRO12 this season, drawing with defending champions Leinster at the RDS and winning their other four matches, including a thumping 43-26 win last time out at Connacht.

On Friday Ospreys host Ulster looking to extend their ten-game winning streak at the Liberty Stadium but if last season’s fixtures are anything to go by, there will be little to separate these two sides.

Both matches were narrowly won by the away side on the day with the overall points scored in the two games being Ospreys 29, Ulster 28. Five of the last six encounters have seen the losing side gain a bonus point.

And with Leinster arriving at the Liberty Stadium next weekend for their opening Heineken Cup clash, Tandy is keeping his feet on the ground.

"We are really pleased to be where we are in the table four weeks in and after three games on the road, but we aren't going to allow ourselves to get carried away,” said Tandy.

“There's plenty of room for improvement in a few areas of our game, and we are going into a tough run of fixtures where we are going to have to move up several gears if we are going to keep building momentum.

"Ulster on Friday night is as difficult as it gets. They've got a strong squad with world class players in there, Lions, All Blacks and Springboks, and as they've shown over the last two seasons in getting to Heineken and PRO12 finals, they can beat anyone so we are going to have to be at our very best.

"It should be a cracking contest, and is the first of two home games on the bounce against quality opposition with Leinster at the Liberty next weekend.

“This is what we've been building towards in the opening weeks of the season and it's a period that any rugby fan will be excited about.”

Tandy makes one change to his back-line with Andrew Bishop coming in at outside centre but there are four changes to the pack.

Ryan Bevington and Richard Hibbard come into the front row while flanker Tyler Ardron and No.8 Joe Bearman join Justin Tipuric in the back row.

Ulster have now won their last two fixtures, against Connacht and Treviso, to end a three-game losing run but they have already been defeated by a Welsh region this season, going down 8-15 to the Dragons in Newport in their opening match.

Mark Anscombe has made four changes with Andrew Trimble returning on the wing in place of the injured Tommy Bowe while captain Johann Muller also returns.

Declan Fitzpatrick is selected at tighthead having recovered from the injury that he picked up against Connacht in Galway and Nick Williams, who signed a new two-year deal with the province this week, starts at No.8.

Williams said: “We're very excited for this season. The core of the group from last season is still here and after a few injuries last season, we've got boys coming back in who are now 100 per cent.

"When you play the game you want to win silverware. We lost in the PRO12 final last year and it was very tough to take. Departing at the quarters in the Heineken Cup was gut wrenching as well so I guess there's some unfinished business. It's a stronger squad now and hopefully we will have a better season."

At Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 49th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Jon Mason, Wayne Davies (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

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