The two regions lock horns for their annual Christmas bout, all be it five days earlier than its usual Boxing Day tradition but will enter a match primed to contain plenty of punches.
It is very much a role reversal this campaign with the west Wallians enjoying the stronger form into the second block of fixtures lying in ninth position in the URC table.
Having lost two of their seven fixtures by a solitary point there is an argument that that the Scarlets position could even be higher. A dramatic turnaround from a side that languished towards the bottom of the pack in the previous injury-ravaged campaign.
“A lot of hard work has been going on from pre-season into now, explained Peel.
“We have been competitive in Glasgow and Bayonne and were disappointed not to get over the line.
“Last weekend was important against tricky opposition who made life difficult for us. Going in this week it helps going in off the back of a win, but we realise the task at hand is a different challenge, but one we are looking forward to it.”
Next comes an Ospreys side reeling from a record European defeat in the EPCR Challenge Cup against Montpellier last weekend in the south of France and struggling towards the bottom end of the table.
In a week to forget for the Swansea-based side, the shock early departure of head coach Toby Booth drew more than a few raised eyebrows, and a wary Peel feels the knock-on effect can go one of two ways.
“It can work both ways,” continued Peel. “As you have seen many times when this happens you can have a bit of a bounce or reaction of some sort.
“If you look at the players they have in their squad, competitive international players they will be up for this. So, I am expecting it to be a tight battle.
“It is never nice when a coach leaves his job like that, and it is not for me to comment on any decision. I just know he has done a good job there.
“Mark [Jones] has been there now a couple of seasons, he will bring energy, he will bring enthusiasm, and he will get them ready emotionally.”
Scarlets have not won in Swansea since veteran scrum-half Gareth Davies’ brace in a 19-18 victory in 2017 and have just two wins in the last 12 at the Swansea.com Stadium. Whilst emotions will be high, Peel feels his side can change the recent script in the derby and carry on their strong form in the URC.
“Nothing gets your blood going like a west Wales derby,” enthused the Scarlets coach.
“As soon as the game was finished on Sunday, all the focus was switched to this game. It is a fantastic occasion, brings rivalry, and bragging rights.
“I have been lucky to be part of it as a coach, as a player – some great teams and players have played in these fixtures.”
“We have talked about that [poor record in Swansea] this week. We have been trying to understand why that is the case and working out what we are going to do differently to get over the line.
“There is always an emotion to these games and a lot riding on it in terms of local bragging rights. There have been some tight games and others where we would not have been as good as we would have liked in Swansea.
“This year we are determined to go there and put our best foot forward. It is an exciting one for us. Derbies bring a different type of intensity and emotion and we are looking forward to it.”
Scarlets XV to play Ospreys
15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies
1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Max Douglas 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 8 Vaea Fifita.
Replacements:
16 Shaun Evans, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Roberts, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
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