The Llanelli-based region will come into the match knowing exactly what is needed to qualify for the playoff phase of the competition after a stunning 32-19 victory over the Lions left their fate in their own hands.
The win, the Scarlets first on South African soil since the introduction of the four Springbok regions in 2021, has given the in form Welsh region the chance to pull off potentially a few more shocks to end a fascinating campaign on a high.
The victory propelled Peel’s side into sixth place in the URC table, two points ahead of Cardiff and Edinburgh (9th and 10th respectively), but Scarlets have the advantage of playing after all their potential playoff rivals.
The West Wallians, therefore, will know exactly what is needed to progress to a knockout tie as one of the away teams in a fortnight’s time.
“I am delighted to get the win [against Lions] to keep us fighting into this week,” said Peel in his pre-match press conference.
“It was a big game for us [last weekend]. We talked about creating a bit of history, getting a first win on South African soil in the URC, and we just about managed to get over the line.
“I am happy we have gone down to the wire this year and are right in there competing to the end.
“There are a number of things that can happen this week, but our destiny is in our own hands.”
One of the potential scenarios could be that the Scarlets face a repeat of the weekend’s fixture in South Africa once again, with the Sharks guaranteed to finish in the top-four, allocating them a home knockout tie.
For Peel, it’s just a case of business as usual for now, taking one game at a time, with building momentum the main focus of the team.
“We want to make the playoffs. It will be huge for us as a club and historically the Scarlets,” continued Peel.
“We’ve gone on a run in the last four games and have done all we can to put ourselves in this position.
“They [Sharks] have been good this year. No more so than the last couple of weeks, where they have been on the European tour and beat Edinburgh and Ulster away, which has put them in the hunt.
“It’s going to be a tough game, but our mentality is that we want to try and get a result and push the Sharks as much as we can.
“I also want to try and keep a bit of momentum because we have won a couple of games.
“They have that ability to hurt you out wide with the quality of international players they have. They are also really strong up front where they are very physical.
“The challenge for us is to match their physicality, and then match their pace out wide. I think then it’s whether we can imprint that again [from last week] and get a good result this time.
“From our perspective, they are a team full of Springboks, and for us to get a result or points that we need, it’s going to take a big effort.”
One player who will miss out on Saturday’s encounter with the Sharks is scrum-half Gareth Davies, who picked up a rib injury in the win over the Lions. Peel, though, is hopeful the 34-year-old can be fit for the knockout phase.
“There is one or two bumps and bruises around, as you can imagine. It was a pretty physical game, and in the second-half the intensity was big.
“We’ve had one or two bouts of illness, so I think we will take it easy and get the best prep ready, so they are full of energy on Saturday.
“If we were to make it, I would be hoping so for Ga [Gareth Davies to be fit], but to be honest, I don’t know until the medics get a look. He was pretty sore after the game and has flown home already.
“If the medics can get it sorted, we will be delighted to have him if we were to make it.
“We don’t know where we are going to be [in the table] on Saturday morning. There is a lot of rugby to be played on Friday.
“It’s strange that all the games that are a concern to us are on the Friday night, so we wake up Saturday morning knowing what is needed.
“I haven’t got a preference [for the knockouts], we shall see how it plays out on the weekend if we are lucky enough to make it.
“It’s all on then, three games to make a final, and that is the reality of it. If you can make it through this week, it’s 160 minutes of rugby to make a final. There’s a lot of rugby to be played before that, and this is a big weekend for us.”
Scarlets XV to face Sharks:
Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee, Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes
Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (captain), Taine Plumtree.
Replacements:
Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
