Wyn Jones starts for the Ospreys

The second-row has been sidelined since November with a toe injury but came off the bench for the Ospreys last Friday against Edinburgh and will now start for the region.

The news will come as a boost for Wales with their second-row resources depleted. Luke Charteris is sidelined while Bradley Davies is serving his ban, but coach Robin McBryde is hopeful that Wyn Jones will be able to slot straight back into the national side - if he proves his fitness on Friday.

"We're keeping a close eye on Alun Wyn, as we are with a few others," McBryde told Wales Online. "The Ospreys have got a game against Aironi on Friday night so it's good for them to have a bit of game time under their belts, especially someone like Alun Wyn who hasn't played for a while.

"If he comes through that's certainly another boost for us."

And the Ospreys squad also features Wales international Richard Hibbard and Ashley Beck - who was called up by Warren Gatland for the 2012 Six Nations.

Elsewhere on Friday, the Scarlets travel to Leinster and they too possess some internationals in their ranks. Stephen Jones starts at fly-half while Scott Williams starts at inside centre.

Leinster have also taken the opportunity to give some game time to some of their Irish internationals with Fergus McFadden, Eoin Reddan and Sean Cronin all starting.

The Cardiff Blues will also have some familiar faces in their ranks when they host Ulster at the Cardiff Arms Park on Friday. Gavin Henson gets the nod at inside centre with Lloyd Williams at scrum-half. Former Wales flanker Martyn Williams is named among the replacements.

The weekend's other fixtures see Munster travel to Treviso on Saturday along with Connacht hosting Glasgow and Edinburgh making the trip to face the Dragons.

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