Ken Owens’ Scarlets have been warned to expect a fired-up Connacht side this weekend – determined to deny Welsh progress into the Pro12 play-offs.
The Scarlets visit Galway on Saturday in a crucial penultimate fixture of the regular season, which happens to coincide with Pat Lam’s last home game in charge of the Irish province.
The Connacht director of rugby – who led them to the Guinness Pro12 title last season, despite a much smaller budget than the three other Irish sides – is leaving to take charge at Bristol after admitting he was unable to refuse an offer worth a reported £500,000-a-year.
Backs coach Conor Phillips is also leaving with former Samoa skipper Lam and admitted: “It’s going to be an emotional game, but also exciting.
“It’s our home ground, we are always passionate at home, we want to get back to winning ways. We have been disappointed with ourselves and for our supporters, and it could be our last home game so we want to go out on a high.
“The Scarlets have X-factor in their backs and, like Leinster, they have the confidence of a winning mentality and that is massive, so it will be a tough task but we are ready for it.
“But our sole focus is to just to get into Champions Cup rugby and that would be very satisfying to finish off like that.”
Champions Cup semi-finalists Leinster and Munster lead the way and look set for home semi-finals, with the Scarlets third, two points ahead of the Ospreys in fourth, and Ulster fifth a point further back.
The 2015 champions Glasgow Warriors still have a mathematical chance of reaching the top four, but will need to take all five points in Dublin this weekend to stay in touch. Connacht are back in eighth spot.
If skipper Owens’ men can win it could be enough to see them into the semi-finals ahead of their last game at home against the Ospreys.
“It’s massive for us to be competing for a trophy at this stage of the season. When Wayne Pivac made me captain I told him that I had never won anything in my time at the Scarlets,” said Owens.
“This region has a big history of winning things and we have put ourselves in a good position this season after losing our first three games. It is in our own hands to reach the top four.
“I’m sure Connacht will want to give Pat Lam a big send-off an going to Galway is totally different these days to a decade or so ago. Things have changed dramatically there and they have a quality side backed by massive support.”
Connacht outside-half Marnitz Boshoff is in line for a return to action after nearly five months out of action due to a shoulder injury.
