MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Ravenhill Date: Friday, 3 September Kick-off: 1905 BST Coverage: Live on BBC NI, BBC TWO Wales & online, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Ian Gough insists the Ospreys are determined to create more history this season and become the first side to win back-to-back Magners League titles.

The Wales lock was part of the Ospreys squad that was the first side to win the domestic crown for the third time.

Gough will start for the Ospreys as the Welsh region begin their title defence against Ulster at Ravehill on Friday.

"The big thing is that nobody has won it in successive years so what a great thing that would be to do," said Gough.

Wales' double-Grand Slam winning second row secured the first league title of his career when he helped the Ospreys beat Leinster 17-12 in last season's Magners League Grand Final.

Munster, the 2008 champions, have come closest to retaining their Magners trophy but they lost in the play-off semi-final to Irish rivals Leinster.

Now 33-year-old Gough has challenged the star-studded Ospreys - who also won the domestic crown in 2005 and 2007 - to achieve what no team has done before and successfully defending their league title.

"We've won it three times more than anybody and that's great," he said. "But how about winning it twice in a row?

606: DEBATE I think most French sides, plus Munster, Leinster, Leicester and maybe Bath have a deeper bench with recognised players than us ARROGANT OSPREY

"Everyone is going to be gunning for us as we are the past winners and everyone wants to knock the top people off the tree as every year it has happened.

"So how nice would that be to get a good season, finish strongly and do the double - and also take some spoils in Europe."

The Ospreys boast a squad of international talent but are desperate to improve their disappointing European form as they have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle in the last three Heineken Cup campaigns.

The Swansea-based region have a dozen high-profile internationals including Tommy Bowe, Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips, Adam Jones, Jerry Collins, Wales skipper Ryan Jones and new club captain Alun Wyn Jones.

Gough, who has won 63 Wales caps since his debut against South Africa in 1998, must compete with Wales trio Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans and Jonathan Thomas just to start for the Ospreys.

But after Friday's game in Ulster, Gough will need just two more appearances to join the Magners League's elite 100 appearance club.

And the 6ft 5ins former Dragons player, who signed at the Liberty Stadium in 2007, has no plans to retire as he competes to keep his place in the Ospreys team.

"It is amazingly tough for competition here," said Gough. "And that's why I came here.

"The youngsters coming through are at a different level and they're top spec.

"If you don't stay at the top of your game then someone will rip the carpet from underneath you.

"But I'm feeling quite good and long may that continue. I hope there is a little while to go for me yet.

"As soon as I don't feel mentally and physically right to compete at this level, that is the time when I will step down."

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