MAGNERS LEAGUE - 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
 Regan King has scored 30 tries in 107 starts since joining the Scarlets in 2005
The Scarlets are bidding to avert Heineken Cup disaster when they host Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues on Saturday. The Welsh region will not qualify for Europe next season via the Magners League if they lose at Parc y Scarlets. As Llanelli and the Scarlets region born in 2003 they have played in 14 of the 15 Heineken Cup tournaments, missing the inaugural 1995-96 season. "Llanelli's reputation is based on big performances in Europe," said Scarlets' star New Zealand centre Regan King. The town of Llanelli is renowned the world over for its rugby club so failure to join other famous names such as Toulouse, Leicester and Munster in European rugby's premier cup competition would be unthinkable to many of their fans.  Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees are Lions and Wales first-teamers |
They have been ever-present and starred in three European semi-finals and four quarter-finals since taking their Heineken Cup bow in the season after the tournament's 1995-96 launch. Cardiff reached the inaugural European final - before losing 21-18 in extra time to Toulouse - while Swansea - and last season the Blues - have also reached the Heineken Cup's last four. The Scarlets are currently the bottom-placed Welsh Magners League region and defeat against the Blues would lead to Heineken Cup heartbreak unless the Blues go on to save their European skin. If Dai Young's men win this season's Amlin Challenge Cup - in doing so earning a Heineken Cup spot - Wales' four teams qualify for next term's top European tournament. The Scarlets have lost their last four matches and have won just two of their last nine league games - a run that has put them on the verge of Euro disappointment. "This is obviously is a huge game," said King.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We have put ourselves in a bad position in the Magners League in terms of Heineken Cup qualification so this is a must win game. "When I first came to the Scarlets, the first thing I learned is that they live for Heineken Cup rugby and we have to do our best to get a win and secure qualification." Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has already conceded he fears losing top players such as British and Irish Lions duo Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees if they do not qualify for the Heineken Cup. Victory for the Blues, who are bidding for their fifth successive win on the road, would secure their path into Europe but the Cardiff region have never won at Llanelli since the birth of regional rugby in 2003. The Scarlets end their league season with three home games as bottom club Connacht and play-off-chasing Glasgow visit Parc y Scarlets. "Luckily we end with three home games," said injured Wales hooker Rees, who misses the Blues showdown with a neck problem. "We need to qualify for the Heineken Cup so, to us, the Blues game is an eight-pointer."
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