Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips should start against Ulster on Saturday

Mike Phillips may have started every Test for the Lions in South Africa but says he is still being urged to improve in every Ospreys game by Scott Johnson.

Johnson, the ex-Wales skills coach, is the new Ospreys director of coaching and has been preparing for Saturday's home Magners League clash with Ulster.

"He was on my case a couple of years ago [with Wales] and he's on the case again!" admitted scrum-half Phillips.

"He's got a wealth of knowledge about the game, he knows it inside and out."

Australian Johnson was skills coach with Wales under head men Steve Hansen and Mike Ruddock, before leading Wales in three internationals in a caretaker role after Ruddock's shock departure in 2006.

He left to become Australia attack coach but departed after their poor World Cup showing in 2007 and moved to the USA to take the Eagles head job last year, before agreeing a move to the Ospreys last April.

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"There's no hiding place for any player in the squad this year, he picks up on every little detail," Phillips said.

"That's what it takes to win games, it's a very small margin between winning and losing and he's a great coach, he's a great asset to the squad and hopefully we'll perform under him this year."

The Ospreys won their opening league game 19-12 away to Connacht last week and will be hoping to top their first Liberty Stadium appearance of the season with a win over Ulster.

"Hopefully the supporters will come out and support us for the first home game," Phillips added.

"And most importantly, hopefully we'll put a big performance in on the field and we'll get another win."

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