Tomorrow, a repeat of last year's final, is phase one. ''It is our trophy and we are determined to retain it,'' said England centre Hipkiss.

Leicester beat the Ospreys 45-31 last year and a repeat would leave the Welsh glamour club with nothing to show for a season that held such promise little more than a week ago.

Last Sunday the Ospreys, made up largely of Wales' Grand Slam-winning team, were beaten by Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Hipkiss believes that defeat will have stung the Ospreys and made them a much tougher proposition at Twickenham.

''It was a great victory last year and we are determined to reproduce that,'' said Hipkiss.

''Wasps in the semi-final were a big test and this is another one - we know we will have to be at our best and match them all over the park.

''They have improved leaps and bounds from last year. They have developed a real resilience and strength in their forwards, which they didn't have.

''Things don't go right for you some days. That defeat has made our job a lot tougher. I know what we are like when we have lost a big game, we are very determined to put it right the next week.''

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones has been under fire following the defeat at Saracens - against a team they had smashed 30-3 in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium.

Jones has been in charge since the big-spending region was formed in 2003 and he insists they are on the right track.

''We have to keep on fighting and keep on improving. We have produced a lot more Welsh internationals than any other region in Wales since we started, which is a reflection of the hard work we are doing here,'' said Jones.

''To see 13 start against England, I was pleased as punch. They represented Wales with honour and to a high standard. We have been delighted with their achievements through the Six Nations.

''If we keep knocking on the door, it will open.

''We have won two Celtic League titles, are in our second EDF final in a row when we play Leicester on Saturday and qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Cup for the first time.

''We will keep on progressing and, next year, we will turn up expecting to win.''

Ospreys centre Gavin Henson is ''50-50'' for the game after suffering a knee injury, while Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips (knee) and Scotland winger Nikki Walker (ankle) are definitely out.

Organisers at Twickenham are predicting a crowd in excess of 60,000, with the EDF Energy National Trophy final between Northampton and Exeter also on view.