The two teams come into the game having suffered very different fortunes this season. The Scarlets are one point off the play-off places in the BKT United Rugby Championship after three wins and a draw in the first block of seven matches, while the Ospreys are down in 14th with just two wins to their name.
On top of that, the home side will come into the fixture on the back of a record 59-15 European defeat in Montpellier and having said farewell to their head coach Toby Booth this week.
The Scarlets were pipped at the post in Bayonne in their opening EPCR Challenge Cup match but bounced back last week to take revenge on the Georgian side Black Lion at Parc Y Scarlets.
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“Last weekend was important against tricky opposition who made life difficult for us. It helps going into this week off the back of a win,” said Peel.
“A lot of hard work has been going on from pre-season into now but we realise the task in hand is a different one, yet one we are looking forward to. We were disappointed not to get over the line in Bayonne, and also in Glasgow.
“It is an exciting Christmas derby for us this year and we are determined to go there and put our best foot forward. Derbies bring a different type of intensity and emotion – nothing gets your blood going like a West Wales derby.
“As soon as the game was finished on Sunday, all the focus was switched to this game. It is a fantastic occasion which brings rivalry and bragging rights.
“I’ve been lucky to have been a part of it as a coach and as a player. Some great teams and players have played in these fixtures.”
You have to go back to 7 October 2017 for the last time the Scarlets won in Swansea when two tries from Gareth Davies got his side over the line 19-18. The Ospreys have won the last five and will no doubt be wanting to prove they are still top dogs in their parish.
“We’ve talked this week about not having won there for a while. We’ve been trying to understand why that is the case and working out what we are going to do differently to get over the line this time,” added Peel.
“There is always a lot riding on it in terms of local bragging rights. There have been some tight games and others where we would not have been as good as we would have liked in Swansea.”
Mark Jones has stepped up into the role of head coach at Ospreys
There is bound to be some extra emotion in the Ospreys camp following the departure of Booth and the elevation of former Scarlets’ wing Mark Jones into the role of head coach. You always have to beware a wounded animal.
“As you have seen many times before when this sort of thing has happened you can have a bit of a bounce or reaction of some sort. If you look at the players they have in their squad, competitive international players, they will be up for this,” said Peel.
“It is never nice when a coach leaves his job, and it is not for me to comment on any decision. I just know Toby has done a good job there.
“Mark Jones has been there for a couple of seasons, and he will bring energy, enthusiasm and he will get them ready emotionally. Knowing him as I do over the last 20-odd years, he will bring those elements to his team, and I wish him well in that.
“I know him going back to our time at Llanelli Youth, the U21 and into the Scarlets senior team. He is a rugby man through and through.”
