WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THIS GUINNESS PRO12 DERBY?
Scarlets are bidding to maintain their winning start to the league campaign and hold on to top spot in the table.
They are on 20 points, the same as second-placed Connacht, with Munster two behind and Edinburgh and Ulster on four.
Dragons are eighth in the table, with Cardiff Blues a place behind and Wales’ top finisher of last season, Ospreys, languishing in 10th.
A quarter of the regular league campaign has gone and Dragons need a win to keep them up to speed in the hunt for qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup.
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FORM GUIDE
The Dragons have won just two of their five Pro12 fixtures, beating Italian duo Zebre and Treviso, who are 11th and 12th in the table.
Scarlets have racked up five victories in as many outings but are yet to score the four tries needed in a match for a bonus point.
DTH Van der Merwe continues scoring run against Munster:
PARC Y SCARLETS FACTOR?
That shouldn’t be much of an issue for any visiting team because unfortunately there’s usually rows of empty seats with parts of the ground shut for most fixtures.
The bigger issue for the Dragons is how to win at Parc y Scarlets.
They have been defeated there on all nine trips and have won just once in the past 14 meetings in the Pro12.
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TEAM NEWS
Taulupe Faletau goes straight into the Dragons’ team.
Wales’ World Cup star had been at the centre of a will he or won’t he battle between the Dragons and the WRU after English club Bath tabled a six-figure bid for the No 8.
But Wales coach Warren Gatland and the WRU refused, under the terms of an agreement signed by the governing body and its four regional teams, to give permission for the controversial sale.
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Dragons chief executive Stuart Davies and the board of the Gwent region accepted the directive despite the prospect of missing out on a bumper fee.
Faletau is one of four changes, two positional, from the side that defeated Treviso in Newport.
Jason Tovey moves from to full-back with Dorian Jones starting at outside-half with Charlie Davies at scrum-half.
Rynard Landman will skipper the side in the absence of the injured Rhys Thomas and is joined at lock by Matthew Screech. The back-row sees Ed Jackson move to flanker to allow for the appearance of Faletau.
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has made six changes, two positional, to the side that secured a dramatic last-minute victory over Munster last weekend via a penalty from outside-half Steve Shinger.
Hadleigh Parkes and Lewis Rawlins are the two positional changes, the former moving to centre from wing and the latter to lock from the back-row.
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Kiwi Parkes has been switched because Gareth Owen is out with a hamstring strain. Tom Williams comes in and Harry Robinson, who returns to regional action for the first time since undergoing neck surgery, is out wide.
Wales tight-head prop Samson Lee and Canada’s prolific try-scorer DTH van der Merwe have both been rested following their World Cup exploits.
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac:
“Despite the win over Munster, we know we still have some work to do. We haven’t put a complete performance together but it is very pleasing to be five from five and at the top of the table.
“Much has been said about us heading in to the game as favourites. I’d imagine because of our record at home and where we are in the table that we may well be.
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“What this game is, however, is a derby. When you bring a derby into the equation, anything can happen.
“Dragons like to try a few things, have some things up their sleeves and have already scored some good tries this season.
“We will need to be on our game to ensure we get that all-important victory. The way we’re approaching it is the Dragons is our biggest game of the season.
“I think you’re seeing a team that is slowly evolving and long may it continue!”
Dragons flanker Nic Cudd:
“The Scarlets have had an excellent start to the season and have won every game so we know we will have to be at our best to get the result.
“Derbies are special and a lot of the boys know each other and love to try and get one up on each other. There’s a bit of spice.
“James Davies is having a very good start to the season. He is a very good player over the ball and busy around the field as well.
“I’ve played him a few times and they have always been good battles – we are quite similar players.
“You just have to concentrate on yourself rather than worrying about individual battles. Concentrate too much on one player and holes will open up for others.
“But you have to be aware of him because he has been excellent in turning the ball over so we will be aware of him and try our best to stop him.”
ANDY HOWELL’S VERDICT
On paper there shouldn’t be much in this but the Dragons have made a stuttering start and have a shocking record against the Scarlets.
The west Walians are riding high at the top of the league and will be aiming for a bonus-point success in a game they should win comfortably.
