To the Metropolis...

We stand a chance for this one. After a decent start to the season a visit to the new City of Cardiff Stadium has probably come at just the right time. The Blues look quite disinterested in the Magners League at the moment, it will be interesting to see if that lack of momentum comes back to bite them in the early rounds of the Heineken Cup. Harlequins, Sale and Toulouse all play in intense competitions so it will be tough for the Blues from the off.

So, will the Blues up their game now that the Heineken Cup is fast approaching? If so, it will be quite interesting to see how the Scarlets adapt. Although fairly entertaining, the games so far have been rather lacklustre on the whole. A good win v Leinster has been followed by two defeats, at Glasgow and the painful defeat at home to Munster. With Stephen Jones' return imminent and the return of Lions team-mate Matthew Rees to come, can the Scarlets really compete in Europe and can they compete if the Blues decide now is the time to start putting performances together?

I'd suggest that the experience gained so far from the young team should stand the Scarlets in good stead to compete at least. We have a decent squad full of local talent and some experience, not as much as the likes of local rival The Ospreys or the Blues, but still enough so that teams will be taking us seriously and for us to expect a few 'big' wins.