Filo Tiatia won two All Black caps in 2000

Filo Tiatia has pleaded with Ospreys fans to make their Heineken Cup clash with Perpignan an "electrifying and intimidating" atmosphere."

The Ospreys hero hopes the Liberty Stadium crowd can roar the Welsh region to a pool three victory on Saturday.

"It is great when the Liberty is jam-packed, it is quite an electrifying atmosphere," said ex-All Black Tiatia.

"Their support is a huge lift to us, especially in big games like this, and I encourage them to get behind us."

The Ospreys have slashed their admission prices so are expecting their best crowd of the season - beating the 8,499 crowd that watched them beat Cardiff Blues - with more than 10,000 tickets already sold.

Wales star Lee Byrne added: "We hope the team and our supporters rise to occasion - together we can do it."

The Ospreys lost their Heineken Cup opener at Leicester Tigers but they hope to replicate the atmosphere of their European victory over Gloucester in Swansea last season.

The Welsh region needed to beat their English rivals to have any chance of breaking their Heineken Cup quarter-final duck last season - and 18,017 fans roared them to a 32-15 win.

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"The crowd can certainly help the team - as the Gloucester win proved," said veteran second-rower Tiatia.

"The supporters are a huge part of the Ospreys and they share in our enjoyment of playing on this great European stage."

The Ospreys can ill afford to lose against French giants Perpignan, third in the French Top 14 league, if the self-styled Welsh glamour boys are to emulate or better their last eight achievement of last term.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley said: "People externally might see it as the ultimate must win game but we can't afford to put any added pressure on us.

"There were certain facets of our game we weren't happy with at Leicester last week.

"We've tried to address those in training and if we perform to our capabilities, then we'll get what we want out of this fixture.

"If we beat Perpignan, and claim a bonus point, it would be a huge boost for us.

"And due to the bonus point we picked up in our defeat to Leicester, if we do what we hope against Perpignan we'll be in a stronger position than last season when we qualified for the quarter-final."

Tiatia's second-half arrival for the Ospreys at Leicester was inspiring and the former New Zealand forward has been rewarded with a start at number eight against Perpignan alongside Ryan Jones and Marty Holah in the back row.

"Like every French side, their forwards will be quite a handful," said Tiatia.

"I'm looking forward to challenge, it will be interesting."

Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams; Daniel Biggar, Rhys Webb; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Marty Holah, Filo Tiatia.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones, Ian Gough, Andrew Lloyd, Tom Smith, David Bishop, Jonny Vaughton.

Perpignan: J Porical; A Plante, F Sid, C Manas, J Candelon; D Mele, C Cusiter; P Freshwater, M Tincu, N Mas (capt), O Olibeau, R Alvarez Kairelis, J Perez, G Britz, D Chouly.
Replacements: G Guirado, K Pulu, G Vilaceca, B Guiry, V Vaki, N Durand, P Burger.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)