MAGNERS LEAGUE - Llanelli Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Venue: Parc y Scarlets Date: Saturday, 17 April Kick-off: 1830 BST
Coverage: Live on S4C, score updates on BBC Sport website & highlights on Sunday's Scrum V
 Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees are both Lions and Wales first-teamers |
Scarlets coach Nigel Davies admits he could lose some of his top players if the Llanelli-based region do not qualify for next season's Heineken Cup. British & Irish Lions pair Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees have already been linked with moves away. "It [missing out on the Heineken Cup] could possibly have an affect [on players leaving]," said Davies. "What we need to do is secure some of the experience that we've got, which we're working hard to do." The Scarlets are ninth in the Magners League and the lowest placed of the four Welsh regions, with only three places in next season's Heineken Cup. Davies' side will have to win their last three games against Cardiff Blues, Connacht and Glasgow Warriors to have any chance of qualifying automatically for rugby's premier club competition. However, even if the Scarlets lose to Cardiff Blues on Saturday they could still qualify if the Blues win the Amlin Challenge Cup as Europe's second-tier tournament offers a Heineken Cup place next season for the competition winners. The Scarlets are traditionally Welsh club rugby's European flag-bearers starring in three Heineken Cup semi-finals and four quarter-finals - and Davies concedes that not making the Heineken Cup would be damaging to the club. "Obviously it would not be great and ideally we would like to have that [Heineken Cup rugby]," said Davies. "[But] the Amlin threw up some great encounters at the weekend and that's a quality competition in its own right.  | 606: DEBATE |
"It's not where we want to be but if we end up there we will have to deal and manage it. "There's still a lot to look forward to, this group are only going to get better but it would be a disappointment, of course it would." Jones is the Scarlets' leading points-scorer but Wales' double Grand Slam winner has been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers, although both clubs have denied the reports. The Wales fly-half has become the club's talisman and to lose a player of his calibre would be a blow. There would also be question marks over the futures of Rees and centres Jonathan Davies and Regan King, who would be targets for teams playing in the Heineken Cup. New Zealander King has recently returned from a serious hamstring injury that kept him on the sidelines for 11 months. Hooker Rees and centre Davies have both represented Wales and have featured heavily for the Scarlets this season. Despite these rumours, coach Davies remains focused on keeping as many players as possible and nurturing the younger members of the squad. "What we've got here is a group of young players developing," he added. "We're happy with them, next year they'll be a year further down the road. The squad will grow and will become better. "It would be nice to supplement it with some quality signings and we'll see what happens."
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