MAGNERS LEAGUE - Ospreys v Leinster
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Date: 18 September Kick-off: 1905 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales & online, score updates online and highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Scott Johnson has had a tough start to his first full season at the Ospreys

Scott Johnson says the Ospreys will follow their own coaching and playing agenda, even if it conflicts with the direction being taken by Wales.

"We're just trying to find an identity that's us," said the Ospreys coaching director Johnson, whose squad boast more Wales stars than any other region.

"You've got to hear what other people are doing.

"We're impacted by Wales as much as they are by us. There's got to be a marriage somewhere."

Former Wales and USA coach Johnson arrived at the Liberty Stadium in April on a three-year deal.

He now has a fully hands-on role with coaches Sean Holley and Jonathan Humphreys underneath him, but he has had a difficult start to the season.

A hard-fought victory in Connacht was followed by a hugely disappointing 16-20 home defeat to struggling Ulster.

The lack of direction that has been evident at the Ospreys in recent seasons was again on show, and the side left the pitch to the boos of a crowd of just 7,000.

"We've just got to acknowledge that it's where we are - and it's not where we want to be, or where we'll finish," Johnson told BBC Sport Wales' Scrum V rugby programme.

"We're trying to make some changes and that can come at a cost in the short term.

SCOTT JOHNSON CAREER Born: Sydney, 19-08-62 Player: Fly-half/centre, NSW & Australia U21 2001: Named Australia A assistant coach and NSW Waratahs assistant coach 2001-6: Wales skills coach 2006: Wales caretaker coach 2006-7: Australia attack coach 2008-9: USA Eagles coach 2009-: Ospreys director of coaching

"It's been a difficult pre-season with people coming back at different times."

The former Australia attack coach, 47, says he is determined to change the culture at the Liberty Stadium.

That would apply even if the concept conflicts with Wales' approach, although Johnson feels that the two can work in harmony.

"We've come out with a way we think of progressing the team, an Ospreys way of doing things, an identity that's truly ours, he said.

"Wales are confronting the same issues. We've got to find an identity.

"It's going to take a little bit longer than we thought, but it's going to happen.

"We could have taken the low route and things could go on as usual… [this way] will take some time.

"We are trying to get to some way that is easily adaptable [with Wales' aims], some skills can cross over.

"Conflict can work both ways we're trying to marry that. There's no one way to skin a cat.

"When you're here you do it this way. We're not too far removed.

"Quite a few of [Wales'] coaches come to our sessions so there's a clear understanding of that."

*Watch Ospreys v Leinster live on Scrum V, BBC TWO Wales, Friday, 18 September, 1900 BST

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