Both teams have notched successive bonus-points wins in Conference B, with opening day victories over the new South African sides followed by victories in Italy, and the only thing that splits them are the four extra tries scored by the reigning champions.
One-up to Scarlets attack coach Stephen Jones then. But the former Wales and British & Irish Lions outside half will have to have his wits about him this weekend when he takes on his former club and international half-back partner Dwayne Peel, now the attack coach at Ulster.
Given they played together for much of their career they will know each other’s style inside out. The fact they are business partners as well merely adds to the intrigue.
“Stephen’s whole philosophy as a player was to move the ball and you can see his style coming through in the Scarlets play. We are close friends, we speak often and our restaurant business is still going well,” said Peel, who moved to Belfast from Bristol.
“I loved every minute of it since I moved to Belfast and it is great seeing the support they get at Ravenhill. Les Kiss and Jono Gibbes have been terrific since I arrived and, even though it’s still very early in my coaching career, I’m confident about what I can offer.
“I was lucky enough to have a long playing career and I enjoy coaching. We are working well as a unit and it is an honour to get a job like this at a club with such a rich history.”
Peel played at Llanelli between 2000-2008 before heading to Sale Sharks and finally Bristol, ending his playing career in 2016. He won 76 caps for Wales and was the first-choice scrum half for the Lions in New Zealand in 2013.
For much of the time he was wearing the red of Llanelli and the Scarlets his half-back partner was Jones and Friday night’s clash at Ravenhill will be a new experience for the two Scarlet legends.
“The Scarlets are a team that has been building over the last couple of years and their younger players have really developed. It has always been a club and then region that has wanted to play with an expansive style,” said Peel.
“They’ve got incredible depth at scrum half with Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Jonathan Evans and they’ve certainly started the season with a bang.”
Just how much of a bang will be revealed in Belfast on Friday night. If Wayne Pivac’s men can make it three out of three, then they will be well on the road to successfully defending the title they won in such spectacular style last season.
Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies, the Scarlets’ Lions duo, are set to return to action this week and they will be looking to complete a 2017 Irish Grand Slam having beaten Connacht in Galway 30-8 on 29 April, Leinster 27-15 at the RDS in Dublin in the semi-finals on 19 May, 27-15, and then hammered Munster at the Aviva Stadium in the final, 46-22 a week later.
They also beat Munster 30-21 at Thomond Park on 24 February, but were beaten 45-9 by Leinster in the regular league fixture on 4 March. They were beaten 19-8 by Ulster at Ravenhill in round three last year.
