WARREN Gatland yesterday unveiled the faces of the future when he named the flying Ospreys pair of Kristian Phillips and Tom Prydie in his squad for the assault on the 2010 Six Nations.

The rookie wings have just two regional appearances between them this season, but the Wales coach has already seen enough to be convinced the fleet-footed teenage duo could be stars in the making in the coveted red jersey.

"They are two young, really exciting players that we want to have a look at and hopefully develop over the next couple of seasons," said the New Zealander.

"Realistically, they will find it difficult to be involved in selection (during the championship), but we are looking for some depth in that wing position.

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"We understand that Leigh Halfpenny might not be available for the summer tour. He needs a shoulder operation, Shane (Williams) hasn't played a lot of rugby recently, while Tom James is very talented, but pretty raw."

Phillips has already caught the eye at age-grade level for Wales, shining for Phil Davies's under-20s last season.

However, injuries have hampered his development over the past 12 months, while the considerable presence of internationals Shane Williams, Nikki Walker and Tommy Bowe at the Liberty Stadium has meant the 19-year-old has played most of his rugby at Premiership level for Neath.

Phillips did scorch over for five tries in a rout of Pontypool in December — earning him the Principality player of the month award — but his Ospreys appearances this season have been limited to one outing in the LV= Cup.

As for 17-year-old Prydie, he grabbed his own headlines last month when he became the youngest player to feature in a Heineken Cup match when he came off the bench against Viadana in Italy.

Like Phillips, the Porthcawl youngster has plenty of pace to burn, as he showed in a pre-season outing against Gloucester, and for Swansea on the fast track pitch at St Helen's.

Saying that, it seems Gatland and his coaching team have been well aware of the pedigree of the Ospreys speedsters for some time.

"To play for the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup at 17 says something about Tom," said kicking coach Neil Jenkins.

"We have known about him and Kristian through the academy and the age-grades. Tom is lightning quick, like Kristian, they both have exciting futures ahead of them.

"Hopefully being involved in this squad will give them a taste of what we are about."

The other shock inclusion in the extended 35-man squad is Saracens prop Rhys Gill.

Released by the Blues and not wanted by the Dragons, the 23-year-old has impressed as part of a table-topping side at Vicarage Road this season.

Sale tight-head Eifion Lewis-Roberts, controversially ignored during the autumn series, is back in the squad, although Gatland insisted the North Walian still has targets to hit in terms of his conditioning.

"He still has work to do; anyone who watched the game between the Blues and Sale on Saturday will realise a few of the Sale players have work to do," he added.

Elsewhere, British Lions Adam Jones and Lee Byrne are welcomed back after recovering from the injuries that ruled them out of the autumn Tests, while lock Ian Gough is also recalled after being surprisingly omitted during November.

In all, the Ospreys provide 14 players to the squad — including skipper Ryan Jones — the Blues 13, the Scarlets four and Dragons two.

Former Dunvant, Swansea and Ospreys scrum-half Richie Rees is rewarded for his fine form for the Blues as Gatland scrambles for a solution to the No. 9 dilemma that has been thrown up by the injuries to Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, while those to have missed out include hookers Ken Owens and Richard Hibbard, Gloucester captain Gareth Delve and Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart.

roblloyd@swwmedia.co.uk