Scarlets captain Rob McCusker insists with so much at stake, Friday’s crunch tie with Glasgow Warriors will be the Welsh side’s biggest game of the season as they look to secure a top-four finish. Currently sitting outside the RaboDirect PRO12 play-off places solely on points difference having won the same amount of games as nearest rivals Ospreys, the Scarlets have just three games remaining to ensure their season continues past May 3. And back-row forward McCusker is confident the experience possessed by even the youngest members of his side of playing in high-pressure situations will prove invaluable at Parc y Scarlets. The Llanelli-based side have won their last four encounters at home and are going for a clean sweep over Scottish opponents this season, whilst Glasgow haven’t won on their travels against Simon Easterby’s side since May 2010. But with their opponents chasing a home semi-final, and fresh from a 51-24 mauling of Munster last time out, the 27-year-old is predicting a game of few chances – the majority of which he is confident his side will take. “We seem to say it’s a big game every week now, but in the context of our season, this is the biggest,” said McCusker. “Glasgow are pushing for some silverware and going particularly well. They faced Munster a couple of weeks ago and played with a lot of confidence so it’s going to be a tough one. “The pressure is on us, not so much on Friday because we’ve both got something to play for, but there’s not going to be that many chances out there. “The team that take those chances when they do arrive will be victorious on the night. “We have some young guys, but guys that have been exposed to a lot of high-level rugby and some pressurised situations, World Cup semi-finals, Six Nations deciders and the rest. “I think we’re more than equipped. This is huge for our ambitions of finishing in the top four.” Glasgow sit in a far more comfortable position than their opponents, knowing victory will ensure them a play-off position at the least but with ambitions of finish top of the table still the priority. And captain Al Kellock has called on his players to remain focused and ensure they are able to influence proceedings in their own manor on Friday to ensure their promising positions doesn’t slip through their fingers. “The target for us is a home semi-final in the play-offs and to do that we need to wheel out the old cliché and say it has to be one game at a time over the last three fixtures,” said Kellock. "What we have to make sure is that this last stretch is all about us. Make sure we produce a performance in each one of these last three games that will set the bar and put pressure on everyone else. “We showed tremendous character to come back from a gut-wrenching defeat in Leinster to take out Munster in such emphatic fashion, but now we can't afford to look further ahead than the Scarlets game on Friday week. “They beat Dragons last time out and will want to win this home game. So the last thing we can afford to do is let our minds stray.” At Parc y Scarlets , 7.05pm. Live on BBC Wales and BBC Alba Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 53rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Jon Mason (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU) TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)
