Lions hooker Matthew Rees is hoping the Scarlets can continue their improved home form when they host the Ospreys this weekend.
The Scarlets have won both Magners League matches at the Parc-Y-Scarlets so far this season as they look to make up for what Rees views as an unacceptable home record last term.
Rees may have spent a large chunk of last season out injured but the 2009 Lions Test star still found four home league defeats in eight games hard to stomach.
“The biggest thing for us is that our home record last year was poor. We only won 50 per cent of our home games. That record is poor and it’s something that we need to change,” said Rees ahead of a mouth-watering West Wales derby.
“That’s our biggest challenge this year, to make sure that we win our home games and then pinch a few on the road.
“We’ve got to make our home games a priority. We’ve played two and won two at home so far and that’s the way we need to be.”
Those two wins have both been bonus-point affairs – the first over a much-improved Connacht and the latest against Italian newcomers Aironi.
Throw in an impressive win over the Dragons at Rodney Parade and a total of 13 tries in their last three games and things are looking good for the Scarlets.
But that feel-good factor will soon disappear if they lose out at home to their mots bitter of rivals on Saturday afternoon.
“For me, as captain of the Scarlets, the main thing is that we get that fortress feeling back when teams come down here,” added Rees.
“It’s taken us a while to settle in here at Parc-Y-Scarlets but it’s definitely the way forward. We’ve got a great stadium with great facilities.
“It was expected that it would take us a while to settle in but we’ve got no excuses now. This is our third season here and it’s important that we make it a tough place to come.
“We need to make sure that, when we do play at home, we make a statement.
“We want to make a statement and get the Scarlets back up where we believe we belong and where we have been in the past. But it’s about getting that foundation in place first.
“Losing at home to the Ospreys has got to be the worst feeling ever.
“We lost at home to them on Boxing Day last year. I didn’t play that game but it was really frustrating watching it and it’s important that we turn things around this year.”
