Gareth Owen insists the Scarlets can still bring the Pro12 title back to Wales.
The only Welsh region to threaten for a top four play-off place this season dropped down to fifth a fortnight ago, but are still in contention as the tournament reaches its climax.
Owen, who has played 22 matches in various back line positions for the Scarlets this season, believes they can win in Munster on Saturday and is backing the Ospreys to do their neighbours a favour by beating fourth-placed Ulster.
“It is going to be tough, but we have been to a lot of tough places this season and have shown we can mix it with the top sides,” said Owen.
“If we can win, it is then down to fate and we’ll just have to see what happens. It will be nice if the Ospreys can do us a favour. The good thing is that everyone is fighting for something.
“It was make or break for us against the Dragons last weekend. If we didn’t win we knew we were on holiday.”
It is four years since a Welsh team were crowned Pro12 champions, when the Ospreys beat Leinster, and 12 years since the Scarlets – the only other Welsh team to lift the trophy – beat Ulster in the 2004 final.
In World Cup year, the Ospreys, the Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons have been found wanting, leaving the Scarlets to prove their own depth of squad is still competitive enough to battle it out with the Irish and Scottish sides.
Owen has typified that strength – filling in at full-back, centre and on the wing while the likes of Scott Williams, Liam Williams and DTH van der Merwe have been absent.
The 25-year-old added: “When you are playing on a Friday night in the pouring rain in mid-season, you are all looking to be playing for something in the final weekend.
“There are no medals for mid-table and as a professional sportsman you want to win medals, you want to win trophies, this is why we have worked hard, from pre-season through until now. These are the weekends why we all play rugby.”
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has been impressed by Owen this season – enough for the player to sign a new two-year contract even though Jonathan Davies is returning to the region next season.
Pivac said: “If you cast your mind back to round one, Gareth started in the No. 12 jersey with Hadleigh Parkes on the wing and we had a lot of success with that. He has also played at 13 and on the wing, so he gives us a lot of versatility.
“You obviously have specialists in your squad, but it is important to have players who can play in more than one position.
“Gareth has always been talked about as a player with a lot of natural ability, but has had some injuries.
“Since I have been at the club I have found him to be a hard worker, very diligent and a real team player. He is desperate to be starting or on the bench, but is also very supportive if he is not in one of those roles.
“It is very important we have players who are on the same page and put the team goals first.”
