Scarlets forwards coach Danny Wilson admits he is relishing the chance to go up against his former charges the Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12 at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night.

Wilson, who was formerly part of the coaching set-up in Newport, will be hoping his Scarlets side can re-discover the form that saw them win their first three games of the season and top the table.

Since then Simon Easterby’s troops have lost their way somewhat with defeats to Ospreys and Treviso in their last two outings.

But the Scarlets have won their last eight clashes with the Men from Gwent in the competition since Dragons won 15-13 at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day 2008 and have not lost consecutive home games at Parc y Scarlets since 2009.

And Wilson admits that there is a lot on the line for his side when hostilities commence on Friday evening.

“There's plenty in this game for supporters, players and coaches alike,” he said.

“Of course I have an understanding of how the Dragons are likely to approach this game and vice-versa they will know how I'll be preparing the Scarlets boys.

“But it's a derby and while there's lots of preparations, it often comes down to who wants it the most and shows the most hunger and passion.

“At our last derby against the Ospreys we didn't have that and they brought real ferocity and deserved the result.”

Easterby has made a few changes to his side ahead of their Heineken Cup exploits starting next week.

New South African second row signing Joe Snyman gets his first start for the Scarlets alongside Sione Timani.

International centre Jonathan Davies is rested and back into the midfield comes his Wales colleague Scott Williams alongside Gareth Maule.

George North returns on the wing after a rest last week with Aled Thomas getting his opportunity to start at outside half, while Rhys Priestland drops to the bench.

Newport Gwent Dragons got back to winning ways following three successive defeats in overcoming Edinburgh 32-12 at Rodney Parade on last Friday night.

And this week Dragons back row Nic Cudd is set to make his debut for the Men of Gwent against his former teammates after Dan Lydiate underwent successful surgery to his ankle following the injury sustained against Edinburgh.

Elsewhere, lock Rob Sidoli is expected to be unavailable for several more weeks as he recovers from a calf injury.

And despite the injury toll prop Phil Price insists he and his teammates will need to be firing on all cylinders at Parc y Scarlets.

“Last week was a really important win for us but we kept our confidence high because our defeats had come because of mistakes we had made, not because we were the worst team,” he added.

“It's a big game against the Scarlets and so it is good to go into that off the back of a good win.

“We've got the European games coming up soon as well so we want to go into those in good form.

“It's always a great atmosphere against the Scarlets but we will be looking for the result like we would in any other game.”

At Parc y Scarlets, 7.05pm.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 87th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Gwyn Morris (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Aurwell Morgan (WRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

Live on BBC Wales