Stoddart back as Scarlets name team to face Ospreys on Boxing day

The region is expecting its biggest ever Parc y Scarlets crowd for the highly charged local derby. The largest crowd recorded to date was 14,400 when the Scarlets played the Barbarians at the official opening of Parc y Scarlets in January this year.

With a record attendance of around 14,800 expected, the Scarlets off-field team are busy preparing Parc y Scarlets for the biggest and busiest game of the season so far.

This week the region announced four new contracts had been signed by top-ranking Scarlets players - Matthew Rees, Ken Owens, Daniel Evans and Iestyn Thomas - the Scarlets have had plenty to get excited about in the build-up to this game.

Scarlets supporters have been given an added Christmas boost with news that international winger Morgan Stoddart is back to fitness after his hamstring injury picked up with Wales, and will start for the team on Boxing Day.

Head Coach Nigel Davies said the squad were really looking forward to the derby: "We are really excited about this fixture as I am sure the Ospreys are. It will be great to perform in front of a full house and we're looking forward to a noisy atmosphere.

"With the disappointment of our last two games, its great to see we have such a big support behind us on Saturday and now we've got to give our supporters something to cheer about.

"If there ever needed to be any added significance for this game - there certainly is for this one on Boxing Day. This fixture is about more than individuals, it is a massive game in its own right and is all about passion and pride and the team that wants it most will win it."

Davies conceded that the Ospreys would start as favourites with three wins out of three, but added that form tends to go out of the window at local derby games.

"They have what is essentially an international team - they are very good without the ball, they defend exceptionally well, they have a good kicking game and get a lot of their points from the pressure that they put on teams. And if you fall into the trap that they set, then it can be a difficult afternoon's work.

"We know it will be a tough one for us against pretty much a complete team and they come into it on the back of a series of wins.

"Saying that, in my experience, the form book doesn't always count for much on these types of occasions."

And the Head Coach added that the Scarlets were focusing on each individual game going forward.

"We are not dead in Europe by any means, we have vital games with London Irish here on the 17th of January and Brive away and there is still a lot to play for in the group. We have to win games in the Magners League to improve our position in the table, and we are in a strong position in the LV Cup.

"What we're doing at the moment is not looking too far ahead. We are taking every game as it comes - otherwise if you just look at the big picture you can lose your focus for individual games. There is still a lot of rugby ahead of us and most notably the two massive games for us now on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve against the Dragons. We need to win both."

And Lou Reed, who achieved his landmark 50th appearance for the region last weekend at Leinster said the players had put their last performance to bed and were hungry for a victory this weekend.

"This game will have more intensity because it's a local derby and will have more of an edge to it. We need to put right what happened last week with a statement and that will be to beat the Ospreys at our home ground.

"They are a great side but from my point of view it's exciting to be in these games and match yourself against the big players. We will go out guns blazing on Saturday and hopefully give our supporters something to shout about early on. We need to show people what we can do - we've everything to play for."

Reed who played in the official opening Barbarians game when the stadium was close to sell out said: "It makes such a big difference and will be a real boost to the players. It does give us an edge when our supporters are behind us."

Scarlets selection v Ospreys Saturday 26th December 2010 at Parc y Scarlets

15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Morgan Stoddart, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Phil John, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 David Lyons (captain).

Replacements: 16 Jamie Corsi, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Vernon Cooper, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Lee Williams, 21 Daniel Evans, 22 Gareth Maule.

For further information please contact Antonia Lamont on 07974 421665 or email antonia@scarlets.co.uk / antonia@lamont-pr.co.uk.