Steve Tandy’s men fought off a spirited Scarlets comeback at the Liberty Stadium to claim a 17-15 victory, but will have to be even better if they are to become the first side since December 2013 to claim a league win in Llanelli.
The Ospreys were the last side to win there in the first of last seasons’ festive fixtures, but Wayne Pivac has influential scrum-half Gareth Davies back fit after he recovered from a long-standing knee ligament injury.
Skipper Ken Owens is still not ready to make his return following neck surgery, while fellow hooker Emyr Phillips is set for a spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder in the 17-15 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea last weekend.
Scotland international John Barclay will undergo concussion protocol, but is optimistic of being available for Saturday’s return in Llanelli, while fly-half Rhys Priestland is likely to be fit after also leaving the field against the Ospreys because of back spasms.
And the Kiwi Head Coach has warned the Ospreys to expect a backlash at a packed out Parc.
“You saw out there it was very much game on, and I’d like to think we will be right in there playing at home and pushing harder than we were at the Liberty Stadium,” said Pivac.
“There was a lot of frustration in our changing room after the second half, so we would like to think we’d be up for the game in Llanelli and go one step further. We have to get our kick-chase sorted.
“We were poor in that area in the first half and at times after the break. We were pushing two guys up on the ball and there were holes in the middle of the field.”
Ospreys Assistant Coach Gruff Rees said: “At the Ospreys we demand excellence and we were far from that against the Scarlets.
“There were a couple of mixed areas we’ll take on the chin, but the bottom line is that at the end of the year we are in the mix around the top five. Being top at the end of the year is pleasing, but let’s acknowledge the importance of just being in the top five.”
