Ken Owens believes it will be trial by television when the Scarlets go to the Liberty Stadium for the second of the Welsh festive derbies on Saturday.
The trial in this sense is one for Warren Gatland’s national selection with the Scarlets hooker suggesting Wales places could be won and lost depending on performances between the old rivals.
Owens’ side may have won their last 10 derbies, including their last visit to the Ospreys, but this game has a far more open feel to it than in recent years. And given the announcement earlier in the week that Stephen Jones will be joining Wayne Pivac in the new Welsh coaching team next year, it will have an extra edge.
“These derbies are almost our trial matches for national squad selection to see how players go against each other and see how combinations work as well,” admitted Owens.
“There are plenty of sub-plots, but for us, it is about worrying about us this week, turning up and putting in a performance that has been lacking at times this year. Europe has been disappointing, but it is gone and now we go back to the PRO14.
“We are second in our Conference and we can park one competition and focus on another. In a local derby like this the form book goes out of the window.”
The Scarlets will find former heroes Scott Williams, Aled Davies and George North facing them and Justin Tipuric’s home side will boast no fewer than 12 Welsh caps in their starting XV. The Ospreys have a formidable home record, with just one defeat in 12 in all competitions, while the last three clashes between the teams have been decided by a total of just seven points.
The Scarlets have won only once on the road this season, 41-34 against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on 26 October, but they have won their last four against their bitterest of rivals.
Ospreys assistant coach Matt Sherratt has urged his side to make home advantage count with the region having lost their previous five encounters against Pivac’s men.
But the last three meetings have been decided by a mere three points or less and Sherratt insists the home crowd could have a big bearing on the result.
“Home advantage does give you an extra edge but I’m sure they’ll bring a decent travelling support as well,” he said.
“Hopefully if it is a tight game that home advantage pulls us through. We’ve had two days training so far this week and you can feel a different edge on the Monday of a derby week where the boys are a little more tuned it.
“The Scarlets are favourites because over the last two season’s they’ve won the PRO12, gone to a PRO14 final and reached a Champions Cup semi-final. They’ve also managed to beat us on the last five occasions we’ve played so they are clear favourites.
“But it’s at the Liberty Stadium and we are looking forward to it.”
The Ospreys have been unable to declare Dan Lydiate fit after pulling out of Wales’ Under Armour Series victory over South Africa with an elbow injury.
The Scarlets have picked Wales centre Hadleigh Parkes at outside-half, with Rhys Patchell at full-back and another playmaker, Dan Jones, on the bench.
Despite labelling the Scarlets as clear favourites Sherratt insists form does not count for much in local derbies.
“Form goes out of the window in derbies and I’ve never coached in a derby which has gone to form,” he said.
“It’s always pretty tight especially early on. They’ve played in the Champions Cup against a good Ulster team.
“I think form has been pretty consistent between the both of us. Having Dan Lydiate back in contention is a massive boost for us because he will bring a lot of experience.
“Derbies are pretty tight affairs so you need as much experience as you can on the pitch. Dan had a very good start to the season and played fantastically well for Wales.”
Ospreys: Dan Evans; George North, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin, Luke Morgan; Sam Davies, Aled Davies; Gareth Thomas, Scott Baldwin, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric (capt), James King.
Replacements: Scott Otten, Rowan Jenkins, Alex Jeffries, Lloyd Ashley, Sam Cross, Tom Habberfield, James Hook, Keelan Giles.
Scarlets: Rhys Patchell; Tom Prydie, Jonathan Davies, Kieron Fonotia, Johnny McNicholl; Hadleigh Parkes, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, James Davies, Will Boyde.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, Lewis Rawlins, Dan Davis, Kieran Hardy, Dan Jones, Steff Evans.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (WRU), Simon Rees (WRU)
