RIGHT now it seems like every game that we play has extra importance attached to it.

While we were delighted to get the win over the Scarlets last Saturday, we now have the Ospreys rolling up at Scotstoun tomorrow, in a game that is key for both sides.

The great thing about our victory over the Scarlets was that as well as furthering our pursuit of a play-off place, it has now made it very difficult for the Scarlets to make the top four at the end of the season.

The Ospreys are currently sitting one place above us in the Pro12 with a four-point advantage.

Even though we still nurse a two-game upper hand, a positive result on Friday night will have a massive bearing on a play-off push.

But that will be a lot easier said than done. Last week they brought back their Wales contingent with the likes of experienced trio Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones and Adam Jones, back available.

The starting Welsh half-back pairing of Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar showed their quality and controlled the game well in what was a comfortable win for them against Cardiff.

Defensively the Ospreys are very aggressive - deploying what is known as a 'blitz' defence, where they look to sprint up and aim to tackle you behind the advantage line.

They have also been playing two openside flankers - Justin Tipuric and Sam Lewis - in recent weeks, so that gives them the ability to disrupt the contact area at every opportunity.

We must bring a real intensity to every contact situation, something we have done well in the past against the Ospreys.

This was an area that was strong in last week's home win over the Scarlets, but we will have to raise our standards even higher this weekend.

We have a couple of injury concerns ahead of the game but for the moment I'm keeping my cards close to my chest on that one.

I have been really pleased with the way Carlin Isles has settled in with us at Scotstoun.

He is a determined and tenacious guy and he has surprised me with the quality of his catch-pass and his running lines.

He is very hungry to pick up the 15-man game as quickly as possible and already, after just 10 days, he has made huge strides.

Carlin is going to get game time under his belt this weekend, as he'll turn out for Ayr against Hawick.

Lining up against him on Saturday will be Peter Horne, who continues his return to full-match fitness for the men in green.

We thank both clubs involved for enabling Carlin and Peter to play this weekend.

I'd also like to wish our other USA international Folau Niua good luck. Folau kicked two penalties and three conversions in the 27-27 draw with Uruguay in the first leg of the Americas play-off for a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup last weekend.