The Ospreys have opened their last three Heineken Cup campaigns on the road but this time they will start on home soil when the meet Biarritz Olympqiue at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

The Welsh club have won their last 12 home tournament matches since drawing 22-22 with Stade Français Paris in 2007 and captain Alun Wyn Jones is banking on that home advantage helping them get off to a winning start against the 2006 and 2010 Heineken Cup finalists.

Biarritz Olympique are also the club who ended the Ospreys' 2009 / 2010 Heineken Cup dream in a dramatic San Sebastien quarter-final in which Jerome Thion led his team to a 29-28 win en route to the final in Paris.

"The big difference from recent previous Heineken Cup tournaments is that this time we are at home," said the British and Irish Lions and Wales lock. "That could be a deciding factor, though we are very aware we then have Treviso away the following weekend.

"There are a couple of potential banana skins in the first few rounds because, while we could get off to a flier, we are also conscious that on their day both Biarritz and Treviso are sure to prove very strong opposition.

"We have got to three quarter-finals in the last four years - and we cannot get any closer than we did at Biarritz - I like to think that first and foremost we can get out of our Pool and then see where we go from there.

"That quarter-final in Spain is a painful memory as we felt we did enough to win that game but we have laid that to rest and just got on with things. This match is not about revenge, more redemption.

"And while we did play France in the World Cup semi-finals and Biarritz had a couple of players out there that day that match does not come into it. Our sole focus is representing the Ospreys and attempting to get further in the tournament.

"The Ospreys were fortunate to have seven Welsh players, two Samoans and a Canadian involved in the World Cup so it is good to have all of them back and naturally we were pretty pleased with Wales reaching the semi-finals.

"We hope we can bring the confidence and experience we gained in New Zealand into the squad while we expect the Samoan boys - George Stowers and Kahn Fotualii - to make quite an impact and that the added competition for places they bring will get the best out of everyone.

"They showed their quality and pedigree out at the World Cup and Kahn was the stand-out player in a couple of games for Samoa."

Canadian back rower Chauncey O'Toole is another newcomer to a squad that will play their Round 3 match against reigning English champions Saracens at Wembley Stadium.

"We are looking forward to playing Saracens at Wembley and it will be different to see a rugby atmosphere there," he said

"Going there will certainly make it more exciting for the fans but as a player you have a job to do and you just go out there do that and look at it afterwards. However, it is sure to be a great occasion for the fans and we should be thankful Saracens are keen to take the game there."