Wales captain Jacques Morgan will make his first appearance since November against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Saturday.
The winger has been sidelined since dislocating his left shoulder while trying to score on goal in the autumn series opener against Argentina.
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After missing out on the Six Nations, the 26-year-old British and Irish Lion has been named on the bench for the Ospreys as they travel to Treviso to compete for a URC play-off spot (15:00 GMT).
Mark Jones includes three of the club’s seven Welsh players – center Owen Watkin, forward Reuben Morgan-Williams and open wing Harri Deaves.
Jac Morgan co-captains Wales for 2023 World Cup [Getty Images]
Morgan missed URC’s first four games after suffering a calf problem after returning from the Lions’ tour of Australia.
The flanker came on as a substitute against the Dragons at Rodney Parade in October before heading to Wales to take charge.
“The guys who have been playing while Jacques was injured have done a fantastic job, but it’s always great when you bring the Lions back into your environment and options,” Jones said.
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“It’s good for the competition for spots and competitiveness in practice. He adds a huge amount of energy to the environment on and off the field.”
This weekend’s game against Benetton will be Morgan’s first game since it was confirmed he will leave Ospreys for Gloucester in the summer alongside Dwyer Lake.
Jones is confident the Brennaman forward will be determined to finish the game in style.
Jones added: “He’s given a lot to the Ospreys during his time here, both physically and emotionally.”
“We want the whole thing to end on a very positive note. I don’t see anything other than a focused, excited Jacques Morgan wanting to go out happy and as a team we absolutely want to do that.”
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Striving for the top eight
The Ospreys are 10th in the URC at the start of Round 13, just one point behind the Bulls, who occupy the final play-off spot.
Jones’ side face a fortnight of games before traveling to Ulster for the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup, which could go a long way to boosting their hopes of finishing in the top eight.
They face Benetton at Estadio Monigo on Saturday before traveling to ninth-placed Connacht.
Head coach Jones has suggested other Wales internationals – including hooker Lake and fly-back Dan Edwards – could feature in Galway.
“We’re going to break them down and gradually restore them,” he said. “They have different minutes and some personal circumstances, but they will all see over the next few weeks.”
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how they line up
Benetton: Coming soon
osprey: Hopkins; Cassander, Watkin, K Williams, Giles; Walsh (vice-captain), Morgan Williams; S Thomas, Parry (vice-captain), Botha, Fender, R Smith, Ratti, Deaves, Moriarty.
Substitutes: L. Lloyd, Phillips, Henry, Sutton, Morgan, L. Davis, Houston, Boshoff.
Referee: Ian Kenny (Scotland)
Assistant coaches: Federico Vedovelli and Riccardo Bonatto (Italy)
TMO: Paul Haycock (Ireland)
