Owens targets Scarlets' festive derbies

The 27-year-old hooker has been plagued by a disc problem in his neck, sustained ahead of the 43-0 GUINNESS PRO12 win over Benetton Treviso on September 20.

Scarlets continue their LV= Cup campaign at BT Cardiff Arms Park on Friday evening against Cardiff Blues, but Owens may well have one eye on Wales' clash with Fiji on Saturday having represented the Red Dragons in both tests against South Africa in the summer.

Gloucester's Richard Hibbard and Ospreys' Scott Baldwin impressed in his No.2 spot against Australia at the weekend, but Owens insisted it was important Wales could rely on them with him out of the picture.

"I am six weeks into rehab and it is going well," he told the South Wales Evening Post.

"The operation was a success and it is a case of letting the nerve settle, building up the strength in my arm and
after that I will be good to go.

"We are pretty much on schedule. We are looking at 12 weeks (recovery) and that will probably be around the Christmas derbies period.

"I felt I finished last season strongly and I wanted to continue this season, especially with the responsibility of the Scarlets captaincy, but injuries are part and parcel of the game.

"The only way Wales are going to be successful is if you have boys pushing each other and having that strength in depth in the squad.

"I thought Rich went well on the weekend, Scott came on and made a decent impact and hopefully Emyr (Phillips) will have a chance to show what he can do.

"When you look at the other top nations, when someone is out, someone steps in and that is what you need to be successful."

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