The Welsh capital plays host to the meeting of two in-form teams on New Year’s Eve as Cardiff Blues welcome Scarlets to Cardiff Arms Park.

The cross-table clash sees Conference B leaders Scarlets travel from west Wales to take on Conference A’s fourth-placed side in the shape of the resurgent Blues.

What’s at stake? Both regions are under pressure from the Irish provinces beneath them in their respective conferences, with Leinster breathing down Scarlets’ neck and Connacht level on points with the Blues.

Wayne Pivac’s Scarlets will be desperate to hold onto top spot to guarantee home advantage in the Guinness PRO14 finals, whilst the Blues are currently in an automatic Champions Cup place but can’t afford to concede any ground to the teams currently below them.

Team news (Cardiff Blues): Taufa’ao Filise will hit an astonishing 250^th appearance for Cardiff Blues as he takes up a place in the front row alongside Rhys Gill and skipper Matthew Rees.

Flanker Josh Navidi will also hit a milestone as he’s in line to make his 150^th appearance for the club in the back row, alongside Olly Robinson and Nick Williams.

Team news (Scarlets): Scott Williams will lead the Scarlets from midfield whilst Tom Prydie and Paul Asquith come onto the wings in place of Steff Evans and the injured Johnny McNicholl.

The front row will be formed by Werner Kruger, Ryan Elias and Wyn Jones, whilst Tadhg Beirne and Steve Cummins will back them up in the engine room.

Talking points: Blues boss Danny Wilson is pleased to welcome back Kristian Dacey, Dillon Lewis, Ellis Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert from injury.

“It is great to have players coming back to fitness and competition for places following a period where we were quite limited in terms of selection,” said Wilson.

“That is what we need during this vital period of the season and we’re very much looking forward to what promises to be a brilliant occasion against the reigning champions.

“We are going into the clash on the back of some good form, with seven wins from our last 10 first-team fixtures and five in a row at home, but we are under no illusions of the challenge the Scarlets present.”

Whilst Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac is expecting a tough encounter: “We have the utmost respect for the Blues and we can’t get carried away with Tuesday’s result.

“It’s similar to the Ospreys, the formbook goes out the window when you head into derby matches.

“We only have to look back to the home game here when we were up 18-3 at half time and virtually with a blink of an eye it was 18-17.”

Key battle: Willis Halaholo v Scott Williams

The midfield battle between Willis Halaholo and Scott Williams could be the key factor in deciding which way this finely-poised battle goes, with both men dictating play for their sides all season long.

Williams delivered the crucial crossfield kick that allowed Josh Macleod to steal the game from the Ospreys on Boxing Day, whilst Halaholo has been key to the Blues chances all season – his barn-storming carries through midfield doing the damage week after week.

Key stat: Cardiff Blues have won their last two matches, at home to Sale in the European Challenge Cup and at Dragons on Boxing Day

Did you know? Scarlets only defeat in their last five matches in all tournaments was 21-28 to Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on 2 December.

Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; O Lane, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, T James; G Anscombe, T Williams; R Gill, M Rees (capt), T Filise, S Davies, J Turnbull, J Navidi, O Robinson, N Williams.

Replacements: K Dacey, B Thyer, D Lewis, G Earle, E Jenkins, L Williams, J Evans, A Cuthbert.

Scarlets: L Halfpenny, T Prydie, H Parkes, S Williams (capt), P Asquith, R Patchell, G Davies, W Jones, R Elias, W Kruger, T Beirne, S Cummins, J Macleod, J Davies, W Boyde

Replacements; K Owens, R Evans, S Gardiner, D Bulbring, L Rawlins, A Davies, D Jones, I Nicholas

Match officials – Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

AR1: Ian Davies (WRU)

AR2: Adam Jones (WRU)

TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

TV: Sky Sports and BBC Cymru

Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and can be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie