In-form Olly Cracknell will look to give the Wales selectors another nudge when he features for the Ospreys against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday (18:35 BST).
The back rower hasn’t been part of the national set-up since figuring in a Six Nations squad two years ago.
But he acquitted himself well in a physical duel with Ross Moriarty recently and has been playing some of his best rugby. He has made 230 tackles in the Guinness PRO14 this season and 146 carries, a total bettered by only three other regional players.
Very similar in style to Moriarty, he shares the Dragon’s penchant for hard work and grafting and has emerged as a leader at the Ospreys.
He will need to come from a long way back to interest Gatland, but his consistency this season has been exceptional.
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He features in a side showing just one change from the team that defeated the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Ma’afu Fia comes in for Tom Botha at tight-head prop, with the South African dropping to the bench.
Luke Price stays at No. 10 ahead of Sam Davies, while Dan Lydiate figures among the replacements.
Justin Tipuric, man of the match by a country mile against the Cheetahs, leads the side from openside flanker as the Ospreys look to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs and securing a place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
Head coach, Allen Clarke, said: “Our performances in the last two games mean that we still have everything to play for over the final two rounds of the regular season.
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“This weekend we want to build on our bonus point win against the Cheetahs, and finish off what has been a wonderful two weeks for the squad with an even better performance.
“It’s the first time for the Ospreys to play in Port Elizabeth, a new experience at a new ground. We want to enjoy that experience by delivering a thoroughly professional performance, working hard for one another and doing what we do best both sides of the ball.”
Southern Kings: U. Beyers; H. Klaasen, S. Sithole, B. Klaasen, B. Basson; B. Pretorius, S. Ungerer; A. Tshakweni, M. Willemse, D. Terblanche; S. Greef, JC. Astle (capt); A Ntsila, A. Van Schalkwyk, R Lerm.
Reps: A. Van Rooyen, S. Ferreira, P. Scholtz, S. Oelofse, S. De Wit, R. Van Rooyen, M. Banda, M. Rokoua.
Ospreys: D. Evans; H. Dirksen, C. Allen, O. Watkin, K. Giles; L. Price, A. Davies; N. Smith, S. Baldwin, M. Fia, A. Beard, B. Davies, O. Cracknell, J. Tipuric (capt), J. King.
Reps: S. Parry, G. Thomas, T. Botha, D. Lydiate, S. Cross, M. Aubrey, S. Davies, L. Morgan.
