HEINEKEN CUP - POOL FIVE
Venue: Stade Aime Giral Date: Sunday, 23 January Kick-off: 1300 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales & online, Radio Cymru; score updates on the BBC Sport website

Iestyn Thomas has played in all of the Scarlets' Heineken Cup games

Iestyn Thomas has warned the Scarlets that Sunday's daunting Heineken Cup trip to Perpignan will be pointless unless they believe they can win.

The Llanelli-based region are Wales' only hope of a place in the quarter-finals if they can secure one of two pool runners-up spots.

But they travel to Perpignan knowing the French club have not been beaten on their own patch by a Welsh region.

"Everybody respects that this is a massive challenge," said prop Thomas.

"I just think if you don't believe you can go out there and win, it's pointless going.

"You've got to believe you can beat a team and hopefully it will go well on Sunday."

The Scarlets must win against Pool 5 leaders Perpignan to give themselves any chance of qualifying and then rely on other results going their way.

Nigel Davies' side are two points behind their French opponents but are third in the Pool behind Leicester Tigers who host bottom-club Treviso, also on Sunday.

Leicester are expected to beat the Italians who have lost all five matches.

The Scarlets have not progressed past the pool stage of the Heineken Cup since the 2006/07 season when they reached the semi-final, only to be beaten 33-17 by Leicester.

But Thomas knows the impact of the Scarlets making it through.

"It would be huge for the boys, huge for the region and for Wales having a team represented in the quarter-finals," said the 33-cap Wales international.

"Financially, it's massive and for the players, it's a chance for the younger boys to experience the flavour of the cup."

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