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Jac Morgan was highly praised despite Wales taking the Six Nations Wooden Spoon for the second successive season [Huw Evans agency]
United Rugby Championship: Ospreys v Connacht
Venue: Swansea.com Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick off: 17:15 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C & via BBC iPlayer. Updates on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, followed by report and reaction
Wales captain Jac Morgan is absent as Ospreys take on Connacht as the race for United Rugby Championship (URC) places intensifies on Saturday in Swansea.
Morgan's Six Nations colleagues Dewi Lake and Gareth Thomas also play no part after being involved last Saturday in Wales' record 68-14 defeat by England in Cardiff.
Fly-half Dan Edwards and hooker Sam Parry start while another of Wales' unused players against England, prop Ben Warren, is on the bench.
British and Irish Lion Adam Beard completes his recovery from a knee injury suffered in Wales' autumn series defeat by Australia last November.
Morgan Morse starts at blind-side flanker with Morgan Morris at number eight and veteran Justin Tipuric at open-side.
Connacht have recalled Denis Buckley, captain Joe Joyce, and Josh Murphy up front and opted for a 6-2 bench split.
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Short-term signing George McGuigan is set for his hooker debut off the bench for Ospreys while Phil Cokanasiga, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Steffan Thomas could also appear after recovering from injuries.
Hosts and visitors Connacht are targeting the top eight with three rounds left of the regular URC season.
Ospreys lie 11th, one point and two places below the Irish side. The tight nature of the play-off race is highlighted by Ospreys being five points adrift of fifth-placed Munster with Connacht one point better off.
Ospreys coach Duncan Jones said: "It sounds a cliché but every game is really important from here on in. I can't remember a league ever being so tight from third all the way down to 12th.
"Any results that doesn't go your way doesn't go your way doesn't mean you are out of it, but it certainly makes it more difficult."
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Garyn Phillips, Sam Parry (capt), Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Morgan Morse, Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: George McGuigan, Steffan Thomas, Ben Warren, James Fender, Tristan Davies, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Phil Cokanasiga, Iestyn Hopkins.
Connacht: Piers O'Conor; Finn Treacy, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce (capt), Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Temi Lasisi, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, David O'Connor, Matthew Devine, JJ Hanrahan, Sean Jansen.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (WRU), Ellis Poulden (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
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