The local derby friendly has been arranged to give both regions valuable gametime ahead of their Magners League return the following weekend.
It will also be a big chance for Davies and opposite number Paul Turner to take a close look at some of their emerging talent.
Davies told a Parc y Scarlets press conference: “Games have been thin on the ground during the RBS Six Nations so we want to put in a performance or two so that we can build moving forward into the latter stages of the league campaign which is very important to us.
“During the season it can be difficult to retain the focus when there are long periods with very few games such as Six Nations time. You can’t keep the same intensity in training and the coaches can’t work off performances – that’s why the Dragons game is important to us. We now get back into the routine of playing games regularly and outing the right performances in place.”
“Our squad is an exciting mix of squad players – who form the core of the travelling party – and a few players who we’ve got our eye on for next season. It’s a highly competitive team, an exciting one for our supporters to look at. There may be some names in there they don’t recognise at this moment in time but who they may become familiar with going forward.”
Faces unfamiliar to the senior squad include Wales U20s centre Nick Reynolds, a Llangennech RFC product now with Llanelli, and flanker Luke Jones, a Bonymaen product now with Llanelli.
Rhondda-born 24-year-old prop Scott Roberts, formerly with the Cardiff Blues and now playing with Llanelli, is in the 22. He has represented Wales at U16, U18 and U21. He came through the Cardiff Blues Academy and his former clubs include Pontypridd and Bridgend.
Also there is 22-year-old Llandovery hooker Emyr Phillips, 19-year-old Wales U20, Llanelli and Scarlets Academy prop Simon Gardiner, Scarlets development lock and Llanelli RFC star Aaron Shingler, aged 21 and formerly with Hendy, young Llanelli scrum-half Gareth Davies and tighthead-prop Craig Cross, a Swansea-born 21-year-old now with Llandovery.
Davies continued. “Our Wales squad players have a week off now so they’re not involved. We want them to come back the following week fully refreshed and ready for our push for the league.
“They’ve all done well for Wales and I think they’ll come back energised – it’ll be good to welcome them back.”
Scarlets squad
Scarlets v Newport Gwent Dragons, Friendly, Rodney Parade, Thu 26 March, 7.15pm
15 Daniel Evans, 14 Darren Daniel, 13 Nick Reynolds, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Dafydd James, 10 Ceiron Thomas, 9 Gavin Cattle; 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Craig Cross, 4 Vernon Cooper, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Rob McCusker, 7 Luke Jones, 8 Josh Turnbull; Reps – 16 Scott Roberts, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Lloyd Phillips, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Gareth Morris.
