Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies believes Judgement Day will record a favourable verdict on the progress of the four regions.
This Saturday’s double header has already shifted almost 65,000 tickets, meaning the attendance at the Principality Stadium will be a record for the Pro12.
Davies – who was chief executive of the Newport Gwent Dragons before he crossed to the other side and joined the WRU – insists rising numbers indicate a game on the up, even if that has not been reflected in overall standings in the league.
Ahead of the clashes between the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys, followed by the Dragons against the Scarlets, he said: “I think regional rugby is on the way up in terms of the attendances in the last few months and there’s generally a positive psyche.
“We said, ‘wouldn’t it be great to fill the stadium for this year?’ We are not quite there, but we are up past 63,500, with about 700-800 a day going. It would be great to have a final push to try and get to that sell out situation.
“It is good news. It shows that in this very often much maligned Pro12 competition and the domestic game, you are looking at 70,000 plus in all likelihood coming together on Saturday.”
Only the Scarlets threaten the top four in the table and have a shout at the play-offs, whilst the Blues and the Ospreys are both struggling to make the top six and qualifications for next season’s European Champions Cup.
Despite that, Davies believes there is a massive interest in the progress of the four regions and that not everything in a rugby-obsessed nation has to revolve around the national team.
“You are seeing Wales’ top stars play in an event that is seen as growing and we are thankful to the Blues for making it spicier than we all thought it was going to be.
“I am looking forward to it and I am sure 70,000-odd people are as well. I am just delighted by the progress made by our regions. We all appreciate our individual positions and we are all striving toward similar goals.
“I went out to Montpellier for the Dragons game at the weekend and their budget is 24 million Euros.
“There were 7,400 people there for a European Cup semi-final with their squad. I sometimes think we get too easily knocked in Wales.”
The growth in this year’s ticket sales has prompted the regions and the WRU to consider whether more double header fixtures could be put into the calendar – either at the Principality Stadium or the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
