Ospreys vs Cardiff Blues - Friday 19.05

Ospreys have Moldovan front-rower Dmitri Arhip on the replacements bench for Friday night's RaboDirect clash with Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium. Arhip will make his regional debut if he comes on.

Arhip has arrived as the Ospreys find themselves in the midst of a prop crisis. They are without injured trio of tight-heads, Adam Jones, Aaron Jarvis and Joe Rees, who are all out injured.. The 23-year-old had signed an initial deal with the Welsh region until the end of the season, subject to Arhip obtaining a work permit. Arhip, capped 19-times by Moldova, has an option to extend his stay with the Pro12 champions for a further year.

Head coach Steve Tandy said the region will be recruiting further cover for injured props.
"It's a high priority for us to get someone in for Heineken Cup time," he said. "The boys are working behind the scenes trying to get a couple of people in which we will need to cover us through the Heineken Cup and a hectic Christmas period."

Ospreys have won their last four matches against fellow Welsh regions, and have lost only once at home to such a side since 2007.
The region are unbeaten at Liberty Stadium since Glasgow Warriors were the visitors on 14 September.
The Blues ended a four game losing run in the Pro12 with their 14-7 victory over Zebre in Italy last Sunday.
The Blues only win over a rival Welsh region in their last seven encounters was 16-5 at the Dragons on 15 September.
Ospreys are unbeaten in their last four fixtures with the Blues in all competitions, while the Cardiff-based outfit have triumphed just once on Ospreys soil since the regions were formed - 28-9 at Liberty Stadium on 22 December 2005.

"Since the start of the season we have got better week in week out but we have not had the rewards on the scoreboard, which is the most important thing, as obviously we want to win every game," said Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies.
"We were very unlucky against Munster, but had a good win against Wasps and played well against the Scarlets, a little ill discipline cost us the game.
"We did end that game with a bonus point meaning we finished the LV campaign in joint top of the group, which is pleasing.
"We have said since the start of the season that we are in transition and we have a lot of young players coming through.
"What we have done over the last few months, although it has been painful at times with some of the results, is create some depth and given a lot of players opportunities.
"We have given opportunities to twelve or fourteen players many of whom are under the age of 22."