Scarlets will go into their final league game in the BKT United Rugby Championship knowing exactly what they need to do to reach the play-offs.
With all their main rivals for a top eight finish playing before them – Cardiff Rugby, Edinburgh Munster and Benetton Rugby all play on Friday night – they will know how many points they need when they face the Sharks.
Dwayne Peel’s side go into the final round sitting in sixth place with 48 points. If there is a winner in the game between Munster and Benetton Rugby, then they will overtake them. If Cardiff, down in ninth, win against the Stormers then they will also go ahead of them.
Edinburgh, in 10th, can match the Scarlets on 48 points if they beat Ulster at home. If they pick up a bonus-point win then they will also go above Peel’s men.
So, they could take the field in Durban in as low as ninth place, or even be confirmed as quarter finalists before kick-off.
“There are a lot of things that can happen before our game, but the key for us is that our destiny is in our own hands,” said Peel.
“The Sharks have been going well, they are a team stacked full of Springboks so to get what we need is going to take a big effort. The challenge of us is matching their physicality, that will be key.
“But as much as knowing the quality in their side, this is about us. We’re comfortable with how we want to play, and it is about being able to replicate last week’s performance this weekend.
“We are prepping as normal, we want to try and get a result, we want to keep the momentum we have built having won our last four games.”
Wales scrum half Gareth Davies will be missing from the side having flown home with an injury and that means former Wales U20 star Archie Hughes will start in an otherwise all international back division.
Hughes is one of only two changes to starting line-up from the side that made history with a first win in South Africa in the URC against the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend. The other sees Ryan Elias come in at hooker on rotation with Marnus van der Merwe, who was this week named in the forthcoming Springboks’ alignment camp.
Wales international centre Joe Roberts will make his 50th appearance in the game as he lines up alongside Johnny Williams in the midfield.