Scarlets are out to send a statement of intent to their Guinness PRO12 rivals by toppling league leaders Leinster at Parc y Scarlets.

Wayne Pivac's men have already defeated high-flying Glasgow Warriors and champions Connacht in West Wales and are five games unbeaten heading into this weekend.

But they face a Leinster side who are three points clear at the top of the PRO12 having won their last six games in-a-row.

But they will be without a number of front-line Irish internationals for their trip to Wales. The Scarlets are also depleted, with six star players in the frame to feature for Wales against South Africa on Saturday.

Only nine points separate the top seven sides and a Scarlets win would make it even tighter at the top. Glasgow were their last victims as tries from Will Boyde, Aaron Shingler and Jonathan Evans secured a 27-3 triumph.

Loosehead prop Wyn Jones has become a key cog in the region's charge up the league table after they kicked off their campaign with four consecutive defeats. And he is hoping to claim a Leinster scalp to keep the winning momentum rolling.

He said: "We've looked at the whole team. They're top of the table but we've got good momentum recently. We've won last five games, a win against Leinster would put us in the mix for the top four - that's definitely what we're aiming for.

"There aren't many points separating the top eight in the championship table at the moment. One win against Leinster could put us in the top four; it's a huge game for us. We want to keep the winning momentum going and the next two games are key for us."