Opportunity knocks again for the Ospreys squad at Black Lion in the Challenge Cup after racking up the air miles at the start of the season.

Mark Jones' men get their European campaign under way against the Georgian side at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi on Saturday (13:00 BST).

The trip comes after Ospreys started the United Rugby Championship (URC) in South Africa against Sharks in Durban and Lions in Johannesburg.

They had a six-day turnaround from that second fixture to a Welsh derby against Dragons at Rodney Parade, making light of the travel demands to win 38-31 in Newport.

After facing Black Lion, Ospreys will have racked up around 10,000 miles as the crow flies in just four fixtures of the season.

The workload has led to rotation and six players make their first starts of the season against the Georgians - including debutant full-back Lewis Edwards - to take the season's tally to 34 starters in four fixtures.

"It has certainly not been about sacrificing results. Every team we have put out has been with a view of winning the game," said assistant coach Richard Kelly.

"There are 22 games guaranteed plus any European knockouts, so you have to make changes during the season and trust the squad.

"We've got to try and make sure that when we need the players, they are all ready to go so you have to give them opportunities to show what they can do."

Full-back Edwards, who impressed for Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship with his huge kicking game, makes his Ospreys debut aged 19.

There are first starts of the season for scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, hooker Lewis Lloyd, tight-head prop Ben Warren, lock Lewis Jones and open-side flanker Gwilym Evans.

Ospreys select a core of experienced figures with Wales centre Owen Watkin leading a team that also features Australians Lalakai Foketi, Lawson Creighton and Ryan Smith.

They face a Black Lion side that beat Montauban last season and led eventual winners Montpellier 13-0 at half-time before going down 24-13.

They famously beat Scarlets 23-7 in Llanelli in 2023, with Kelly braced for a physical test.

"We're going there to get the win but we are under no illusions what kind of side Black Lion are," he said.

"They are going to use the set piece and driving line-out, and their pack challenge is going to be huge."

Black Lions: TBC

Replacements: TBC

Ospreys: Edwards, Morgan, Watkin (capt), Foketi, Hopkins; Creighton, Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, Lloyd, Warren, L Jones, Smith, Sutton, Evans, Morse.

Replacements: Daniel, C Jones, Hire, Roberts, Morris, L Davies, Wilde, Boshoff.

Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)