Scarlets: Pivac wants Rhys Priestland to bow out 'on high note'

Rhys Priestland broke into the Wales team just before the 2011 World Cup.

Coach Wayne Pivac wants Rhys Priestland to "go out on a high note" when Scarlets face Cardiff Blues in the Pro12 on Sunday.

The derby match will be Wales international fly-half Priestland's last home game before joining Bath.

And after Dragons' 19-5 win over Edinburgh on Friday, a bonus-point win for Scarlets will all but clinch their place in the European Champions' Cup.

"Rhys Priestland has been a very big part of this club," said Pivac.

"You know it's sad to see him go, but we'd like him to go out on a high note.

"We'd like to think there's a couple more big games left in him and certainly our intention would be to give him the opportunity to go out on a high note."

Rhys Priestland was already with the Scarlets when he played for Wales U20 in 2007

The 28-year-old Priestland has played 155 matches for the west Wales region after joining as an 18-year-old from Carmarthen Athletic.

He has scored a Scarlets record 1084 points during his 10 years at the region, and played 32 times for Wales.

His last game for the region is likely to be the trip to Treviso on 16 May, but Scarlets could tie-up sixth place and Champions Cup qualification against the Blues.

Edinburgh's surprise defeat at Rodney Parade leaves them a point behind the Scarlets.

However, Connacht have moved above the Scarlets into sixth place following their 40-10 win over Zebre on Saturday.

A win with a bonus point over the Blues would put the Scarlets five points ahead of Connacht and take Edinburgh out of the equation with one game left to play.

Scarlets travel to Treviso on the last Saturday of the scheduled season, while Connacht will host leaders Ospreys.

Pivac says he would like to get European qualification out of the way before the final round of Pro12 matches.

"Obviously it's a big motivating factor for the weekend," he said.

"If we can get a result first and foremost and if we're lucky enough to get five points then all the better.

"We'd be able to sit back then and see how the other matches pan out.

"But the competition hasn't gone like that and it might come down to the last five minutes of the last game, but I hope it doesn't."