The mouth-watering tie of the weekend awaits us at Welford Road as two-time champions Leicester Tigers come up against the star-studded Ospreys. 

And rookie scrum half Rhys Webb insists there will be life for club and country without Mike Phillips.
 
Webb is in line to face Leicester Tigers in their Heineken Cup opener at Welford Road on Sunday. 

And his impressive start to the season in the absence of crocked stars Phillips and New Zealander Jamie Nutbrown has alerted Wales coach Warren Gatland ahead of the Autumn Tests. 

Webb, 19, said: “It will be one of the biggest games of my life. My form has been good and I want to continue to show everyone what I can do. 

“I’m thriving on the opportunity and feel I’ve stepped up to the mark. Regional rugby is a lot faster, physical and more structured and I’m no longer running around like a headless sheep. 

The Welsh region reached the last eight for the first time in their history but came up short in a shock loss away to Saracens. 

Sean Holley takes charge for his first European test from Lyn Jones while it has been all change at the Tigers with South African coach Heyneke Meyer taking over from Marcelo Loffreda, who failed to get out of the pool stage last season. 

The Guinness Premiership outfit have signed fly-halves Toby Flood and Derick Hougaard in the summer and have All Black Scott Hamilton on his way.

Gavin Henson has been left out for two matches by the Ospreys on the eve of their Heineken Cup opener tomorrow (Sun).
Wales star Henson, 26, has been banned for disciplinary reasons and will miss the European clashes with pool rivals Leicester Tigers and Perpignan. 

It is a big blow ahead of the Welsh region’s trip to Welford Road after Henson missed a training session. 

An Ospreys statement said: “Gavin is excluded from the next two Ospreys fixtures following a rugby-related internal disciplinary decision.” 

It is the latest spell on the sidelines for the British Lions centre who has too often hit the headlines for his off-the-field indescretions, rather than his on-the-field heroics. 

In 2005, Henson emerged as the glamour-boy of Welsh rugby with his silver boots and spiky hair to help the dragons deliver their first Grand Slam in 27 years. 

Yet he fell from grace following his controversial autobiography ‘My Grand Slam Year’ later that year while a string of injuries, suspension and a loss of form hampered his playing career. 

His conduct also came under scrutiny following incidents in the French Alps and on a train returning home from an EDF Energy Cup victory at Harlequins last season. 

Henson has just returned from a five-month layoff following ankle surgery but he admits he deserved the two-match ban.
Henson said: “I fully accept the decision and entirely support the penalty imposed. 

“I reacted poorly to feed-back from the team management to our last home game and took unauthorised leave to consider the matters raised. 

“Having signed up to the Ospreys “Code of Conduct” introduced earlier this year, I was part of a disciplinary decision. I look forward to getting back on the field with my team-mates.”