THE Ospreys will head for Welford Road and their European showdown with Leicester tomorrow believing months of team-building have equipped them to go the distance this time.

Gavin Henson discovered yesterday that the squad culture that has been developed at the Liberty Stadium is bigger than any individual.

Excluding him from the set-up was a roll of the dice by any standard.

But the region have set in place new rules this season that are designed to strengthen bonds between players and carry the team through when the going gets tough.

Attitude is the key and individuals are expected to accept criticism and any issues they might have with selection — points that were stressed by Filo Tiatia last week.

Henson is said to have accepted the decision to suspend him for two games and will train with Swansea on Tuesday evening with an appearance for his old club lined up for next Saturday, against Newport at Rodney Parade.

It was exactly what the region wouldn't have wanted in the build-up to a major game. One of their brightest stars falling to earth with a thud as the team talks are being rehearsed ahead of the start of the Heineken Cup.

The player who will replace Henson tomorrow, Andrew Bishop, is any many ways the polar opposite of the celebrated one.

Bishop rarely generates headlines for controversy.

He doesn't have a celebrity girlfriend.

He shies away from the limelight.

But he commands respect in the Ospreys squad for his dependability and rock-solid defence. He is a strong link in the chain that Andrew Hore is so keen to see in place at the Liberty Stadium.

Henson's class, confidence and quality are also highly valued and he will no doubt play an important role in the region's European campaign once he returns from his ban. But, for the games with Leicester and Perpignan, he will be on the outside looking in.

It will be interesting to see how the stress on the squad has changed things at the Ospreys.

Last year they lost any number of games in the final minutes, setbacks that were deemed not to have happened just by chance.

The thinking was that the developing of camaraderie between players would inspire them to go the extra mile for each other in tight games, to have an all-important edge on their opponents.

Already this season the Ospreys have pulled off final-minute successes against Glasgow and Harlequins, and come through to take a bonus point with an injury-time try against Leinster.

But Europe is the acid test.

Three years ago they led Leicester 12-6 at the break, only to be swept aside by 24 unanswered second-half points.

Welford Road is one of the toughest venues for a visiting team, but, nonetheless, the region's players will go there believing in the message that is being preached by their team management.

''The biggest thing that has changed since Andrew Hore has come in and Sean (Holley) and Jon (Humphreys) have taken over is that we have tried to work on our environment and values,'' said Jonathan Thomas.

''We have always had the talent as players and as a squad, but the difference between being a winning side and being an average side is the togetherness you show in tough times on the field.

''When you are in Welford Road and it's 15-15 with 10 minutes to go, it's then down to the character you show in the squad. It is about pushing yourself the extra mile for your team-mates and for your team, to just go that little bit further than the opposition.

''That's the thing we've tried to work on most, building our team culture and team values.''

They will need to play well as a team if they are to get anything from their trip to the East Midlands.

Leicester will be desperate to start with a home win and determined to deny the Ospreys a bonus that could prove vital when the points are added up at the end of the pool stage.

They field a powerful pack led by Martin Corry, while the Ospreys give Paul James and Richard Hibbard the nod ahead of Duncan Jones and Huw Bennett, with Ian Evans starting in front of Ian Gough and Filo Tiatia lined up to make an impact off the bench.

Rhodri Wells is picked in front of Rhys Webb, while Tommy Bowe claims the No. 13 jersey, Sonny Parker having succumbed to the chest injury he suffered against Quins.

The Ospreys know if they are to beat Leicester they will have to match them physically and mentally.

''We learned in our quarter-final defeat by Saracens last year how important it is to adapt to the game,'' added Jonathan Thomas.

''We failed to do that in Watford and it cost us big time.

''Smart players and teams need to have the ability to change tack in any situation, environment or game.

''We have learned that our game management has to be better and we have to be a bit cleverer in the way we react and do things.

''Sometimes over the past couple of years we have been a bit naive, perhaps in trying to play a little bit too much.

''It's cup rugby and you have to be smart, do the job and get the win. If you have anything about you as a squad, you have to deal with expectations. You can't shirk them.

''Any good side has expectations placed upon them.''

With or without Gavin Henson.