MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Liberty Stadium Date: Friday, 2 April Kick-off: 1905 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales and online, score updates on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website
 Ospreys and Scarlets are braced for another full-blooded Welsh derby |
Nigel Davies says the Scarlets will see how the Ospreys handle the pressure of being dragged into the Heineken Cup qualification mix in Friday's derby. The top three Welsh Magners League sides win a spot next year, the Ospreys currently leading the way with the Scarlets below them, Dragons and Blues. "There are 10 points between us in the league," said Scarlets coach Davies. "If we get the points on Friday the Ospreys are firmly in the mix... there's huge pressure on them." The Ospreys' focus has been more on the top of the table as they currently lie fifth on 33 points, one point off a top-four place that would win them a spot in the new end-of-season Magners League play-offs.  | We've got to play like our lives depend upon it to save our season - and our next season Scarlets hooker Ken Owens |
The Dragons also have 33 points, with the Blues on 27 and the Scarlets on 23 ahead of Friday's clash at Swansea's Liberty Stadium. "It's going to be a massive game, other teams are maybe pulling away from us a little," said Scarlets hooker Ken Owens. "We've got to go there full of confidence and play like our lives depend upon it to save our season - and our next season. "But we don't need any extra motivation. It's a huge derby game against perhaps the best side in Wales and one of the best in Europe." | 606: DEBATE |
The Llanelli-based region lost the reverse fixture at Parc y Scarlets on Boxing Day 14-21. "It was another one where we got a bonus point but could have got the result with better execution," Owens told BBC Sport Wales. "That's been the story too many times this season. "The Heineken Cup is what everyone dreams of, especially down west here with such a lot of history behind the big European days. "We want to be playing against the best in Europe on the biggest stage, it's huge for all the players, coaches and fans." Davies is confident that his side have the ability to ensure that there will be major Heineken Cup occasions in Llanelli in 2010/11. | The Ospreys are playing at home and they're going to be favourites so there's huge pressure on them Scarlets coach Nigel Davies |
"I'm really comfortable that with the team we've got we're going to go there and give them a game," he told BBC Sport Wales. "The Ospreys are playing at home and they're going to be favourites so there's huge pressure on them. "We were on top for large parts of the game on Boxing Day. They got a couple of moments right and got the result. "It's going to be the team that reacts best to pressure that comes through. "It's a game that everyone's very focused on winning, but we've got to stay composed, there's no need to panic. "We have three home games after this and we have to back ourselves to get the results in all the remaining games."
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