Ospreys have named international quartet Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Tomas Francis and George North for the visit of United Rugby Championship winners Stormers.

Captain Justin Tipuric and fly-half Gareth Anscombe are still missing with rib injuries, while wing Alex Cuthbert remains sidelined.

Stormers wing Leolin Zas returns as one of seven starting changes.

The team includes former Ospreys lock Marvin Orie and Springboks number eight Evan Roos, while South Africa front-row duo Joseph Dweba and Steven Kitshoff are named as replacements.

Returning players

Myler and Wales flanker Dan Lydiate were late withdrawals from the Ospreys’ side who lost 47-17 to Ulster in Belfast last weekend. Lydiate is named as a replacement against Stormers, while scrum-half Rhys Webb captains the side.

Wales prop Gareth Thomas and flanker Will Griffiths picked up injuries at the Kingspan Stadium.

Thomas was forced off with a head injury in the first minute and is unavailable this weekend as he goes through the concussion protocols.

Griffiths faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury and will have surgery this week.

Other Ospreys injured players include Dan Evans, Sam Cross, Bradley Davies, Will Hickey, Harri Morgan, Sam Moore, Mat Protheroe and Garyn Phillips.

Targeting Stormers scalp

Booth says defeating the URC defending champions Stormers would be a feather in the Ospreys’ cap.

The South African side have won their three league matches this season with maximum bonus points.

The Stormers are undefeated in 14 league games while ninth-placed Ospreys have only managed one win in four games with two defeats and a draw against Scarlets.

“It is a massive test,” said Booth.

“I am on record as saying I want to test our group against the best. The influence of having top South African teams in the competition means everyone has to get better.

“This is, if nothing else, a benchmark in exercise for progress. We are excited by that challenge.

“You are going up against a team that is going to be very positive that will try and express themselves with good athletes and big collisions.

“If we can perform against the champion team it would be a feather in our cap.

“We are turning around from a team that did not win very much to a side that wants to be competitive. That would be another notch on the belt.”

Ospreys: Max Nagy; George North, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhys Henry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Jack Walsh, Luke Morgan.

Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies; Angelo Davids, Alapati Leuia, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet; Ali Vermaak, Andre-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Marvin Orie, Nama Xaba, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.

Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris, Ernst van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, Willie Engelbrecht, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Aled Evans & Carwyn Williams (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)