Sitting in 6th on 55 points, the Scarlets know they are still in the battle for a top four spot and play-off place if they can get big results in their last two home games against Munster and then Cardiff Blues on May 5th.
With just seven points separating the teams in 2nd to 6th place, it could be any one of five teams making the trip to Dublin with Leinster already through. And with a number of the top six set to play each other in the final rounds, nothing can be taken for granted.
The Scarlets welcome back George North who is back at full fitness, Jonathan Davies (centre) is out with a groin injury and is replaced by Stephen Jones with the Scarlets opting to put as much senior experience and game intelligence on the field as possible.
Jones played at 12 last weekend in Aironi for the injured Davies and the Scarlets will be looking to his vision and leadership in midfield this crucial game. Alongside Jones is bright young centre talent Adam Warren who put in some eye-catching performances in the early part of the season.
Matthew Rees takes the reigns as Captain once again and tight head Prop Deacon Manu is back fit after a spell out with concussion with young Prop Rhodri Jones switching back to loosehead for what is expected to be a big physical battle up front.
Scarlets Head of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “This is a huge fixture for us and we are expecting international level intensity and we have to be right up there in terms of our performance, Munster bring such a big game for 80 minutes, we know what a tough side they are to beat.
“There’s so much in this game for us – not withstanding that they have proved an almost impossible side for us to win against in the past and that will give them a psychological edge over us and it will be a big barrier we have to overcome.
“We need to put a marker down against them now and the boys know that they came very close to beating them twice in the Heineken Cup this season. It was very fine margins that let us down – our Scarlets players have a point to prove now and if the importance of this fixture wasn’t big enough anyway – our record against Munster is motivation enough.
“Our game strategy against Aironi was proved right last weekend and in the last 15 minutes we put ourselves in the right place for a bonus point – it was an intimidating atmosphere and they were a big physical side. The boys will draw on that last weekend ahead of our next two home fixtures.”
Scarlets team against Munster Saturday 21st April 2012 kick off 6.30pm at Parc y Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Stephen Jones, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Rhodri Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Sione Timani, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Ben Morgan.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Mat Gilbert, 20 Kieran Murphy, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jordan Williams, 23 Viliame Iongi.
Munster: F Jones; L O’Dea, J Murphy, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; M O’Driscoll, P O’Connell capt; D Ryan, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony.
Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, S Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, P Butler, T O’Leary, S Deasy, I Dineen
