FLEDGLING Ospreys prop Joe Rees is not afraid of confronting big players, be that in size or reputation.

The 21-year-old made a big impact earlier in the season, when he came on as a replacement against Northampton in an LV= Cup clash and gave the Saints' giant front-rower Soane Tonga'uiha cause for concern.

At 6ft 2in and nearly 20 stone, there are few props more physically imposing than Tonga international Tonga'uiha, though Rees was far from overawed by his opponent in the scrum.

The Ospreys' set-piece improved considerably after Rees's introduction and, as the region prepare for another LV= Cup assignment at Worcester tomorrow, Rees is looking forward to pitting himself against another English Premiership front row.

"For me, the LV's a great competition. It gives me a chance to try to stake a claim for higher honours like the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup," he said.

"So for me it's just about getting as much game time as I can and proving to the coaches that on a big game day I can pull it out of the bag.

"Getting off the bench against the Northampton boys who had just been at the World Cup was a great experience for me. Scrums are a big part of the game for me, and coming up against Dylan Hartley and Soane Tonga'uiha was a big experience.

"I got the better of Tonga'uiha in a couple of scrums and he got the better of me in a couple, so it was a big learning curve.

"You've got to get fired up if you're playing against someone that big. If I wasn't fired up, I would have ended up going backwards, so I took the game to him.

"We had a few words after a few of the scrums went down, but after the game it was all just a bit of fun. He was probably the toughest opponent I've come up against."

Worcester's forwards are coached by former Scarlets boss Phil Davies and, with the likes of Tevita Taumoepeau and Matt Mullan in the front row, Rees is bracing himself for another testing afternoon.

"It's brilliant. I wouldn't want anything less than for them to put out a Premiership team to be honest," added Rees, who has made eight appearances for the Ospreys this season.

"I think if I'm going to test myself and prove myself to the coaches, I've got to play against the best teams and the best players.

"I'm fully focused on tomorrow's game, hoping I can get a good outing and we'll be aiming for the win."