Head coach Mark Jones has rotated his pack with starts for Lake, centre Evardi Boshoff, prop James Fender, and number eight Morgan Morse.
Jack Walsh once again starts at full back, while Keelan Giles and Iestyn Hopkins completing the back three.
In midfield Kieran Williams is partnered with Boshoff as Owen Watkin drops to the bench having started the last two matches since coming back from long-term injury.
In-form scrum-half Keiran Hardy continues creative duties with Dan Edwards off the back of the Wales 10’s new deal with the region, and are boosted by the return of Reuban Morgan-Williams from injury on the bench.
Meanwhile, in the front-row Lake is the only change with starts for Garyn Phillips at loosehead, and Tom Botha at tighthead.
Locks Fender and Ryan Smith are partnered at second row, whilst the versatile James Ratti lines up at six, Harri Deaves takes up the other flank, and Morse starts at eight.
Ospreys travel to Parma knowing that a win against the Italians on Sunday not only will qualify the Welsh region for knockout rugby but also gives them the chance to gain a home tie in the last-16.
Mark Jones’ side are one of just three sides to have a perfect record in the second-tier European tournament thanks to bonus-point successes against Connacht and Montauban.
Victory in Italy would set them up for a group-stage finale against a Montpellier side who put their perfect record on the line against Connacht in France on Sunday.
The top two seeds in the Challenge Cup earn home advantage until the final in Bilbao.
Speaking prior to the match, coach Richard Kelly said:
“We’re really excited to get into Europe again. We obviously got 10 points from the first two games.
“Zebre have had wins this season against Montauban, Lions, and Edinburgh, so are a pretty good team, especially at home.
“But we are under no illusions about what sort of challenge it will be out there.
“You would never say that you can’t win away from home in Europe – and if we end up with an away seeding, we would still back ourselves – but we know that historically having home advantage against the best teams makes a huge difference.”
Ospreys starting XV:
15. Jack Walsh, 14. Iestyn Hopkins, 13. Evardi Boshoff, 12. Keiran Williams, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Kieran Hardy,1. Garyn Phillips, 2. Dewi Lake (captain), 3. Tom Botha, 4. Ryan Smith, 5. James Fender, 6. James Ratti, 7. Harri Deaves, 8. Morgan Morse.
Replacements:
16. Lewis Lloyd , 17. Steffan Thomas , 18. Kieran Hire, 19. Lewis Jones, 20. Gwilym Evans, 20. Reuban Morgan Williams, 22. Owen Watkin, 23. Dan Kasende.
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
