Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies hasn’t given up hope of grabbing an end of season play-off spot but knows Friday’s Welsh derby against fellow top four chasing side the Blues is going to tough encounter.
The Scarlets chances of a Magners League semi-final had looked over, but the Dragons’ victory over the Blues in their last outing has given them hope but Davies is fully aware that Dai Young’s side will be looking for revenge following the Scarlets victory at Cardiff City Stadium earlier this season.
“Derby games normally take care of themselves and it’s a big game without the play-off’s riding on it, but it has got that too so it’s all the more exciting,” he said.
“The Blues are very much in the driving seat and probably have to win to qualify. There’s no guarantee that if we win we will qualify, but we just want to win the game and finish on a high.
“They will feel they have lost an opportunity recently as we did a couple of weeks before them. They will be frustrated, no doubt about that, but they still realise they’ve got a great opportunity to come down here and go through if they perform.
“It’s a big ask against a Blues team full of internationals and they will be very bitter having lost to the Dragons. They’ll be very focused, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
While the Blues‘ fate rests in their own hand the Scarlets not only need to beat their Welsh rivals but need to rely on a major upset in northern Italy with Aironi beating the Ospreys, if they are to progress.
The Italian’s have won just one game in the Magners League this season but Davies believes the Ospreys still need to be wary ahead of the fixture.
“I’ve been to Aironi and it’s not the easiest place to go to,” he added. “It’s a pressure game for them and they will be challenged for sure.
“But all we can do is go out and do our best and we want to finish the season with a big performance as well.”
Scarlets: Morgan Stoddart, George North, Regan King, Scott Williams, Sean Lamont, Stephen Jones, Tavis Knoyle, Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees (capt), Rhys Thomas, Lou Reed, Dominic Day, Rob McCusker, Johnathan Edwards, Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Phil John, Peter Edwards, David Lyons, Richie Pugh, Martin Roberts, Rhys Priestland, Lee Williams.
