Wales trio hope to boost Ospreys Euro bid

James Hook, Shane Williams and Alun Wyn Jones are Wales regulars

The Ospreys are confident Lions and Wales trio Alun Wyn Jones, James Hook and Shane Williams will return in their European clash in Clermont Auvergne.

Wing Williams has been out for six weeks since tearing a hamstring in Wales' autumn Test defeat to Australia.

Fly-half Hook and lock Jones both suffered shoulder injuries in their 21-14 Boxing Day win over the Scarlets.

"We're very hopeful that Shane will be available," said head coach Sean Holley. "Likewise Alun Wyn and James."

The high-flying Ospreys were hoping to win their sixth successive game in their Magners League match at Ulster on Friday but it has been postponed due to freezing weather conditions.

Yet while the second-placed side are the Magners League's form team, the Ospreys have been weakened doe to injuries to key players.

But ominously for their domestic and European rivals, the star-studded Welsh region are set to welcome back crucial players for their crunch Heineken Cup group showdown with Clermont Auvergne on 16 January.

Shane is a proven try-scorer, he is a former world player of the year and is quality whether he is in the staring XV or on bench Ospreys head coach Sean Holley

Full back Lee Byrne and prop Adam Jones, the Lions and Wales pair, have recently returned from injury while star scrum-half Mike Phillips is on the road to recovery after a foot injury.

Holley hopes Lions regular Jones, versatile back Hook and 2008 IRB International Player of the Year Williams, Wales' record try-scorer, will be fit to face the French side.

Pool Three leaders Ospreys hope to take control of the group against Clermont Auvergne and put one foot in the quarter-finals.

"Shane has played enough games in his career so we know what he can do," said Holley.

"It is a matter of getting him 100%. He would have been touch and go to play Ulster on Friday but now he can get involved in more rugby sessions in training and we are hopeful he will be available for selection."

Williams, though, will have to impress in training if the Ospreys are to drop their current in-form wingers.

Lions and Ireland Grand Slam hero Tommy Bowe has scored nine tries in 13 Ospreys games this season while Scotsman Nikki Walker has scored four tries in as many games.

"They are our top two try-scorers and in a rich vain of form," said Holley.

"But Shane is a proven try-scorer, he is a former world player of the year and is quality whether he is in the staring XV or on bench. He is valuable asset for us.

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"We are working hard in training to get Shane up to speed for the final two European games."

The Ospreys hope to be boosted by the return of their leading Heineken Cup try-scorer as the Liberty Stadium region face tough final two pool fixtures as they bid to qualify for their third successive European quarter-final.

As the Ospreys welcome English champions Leicester Tigers, the two-time Heineken Cup winners, to Swansea for their final Pool Three fixture after their tricky trip to Clermont Auvergne, second in France's Top 14 table, this Saturday.