Cardiff, in second place behind Pool 5 leaders Leicester Tigers whom they visit on January 12, made it four wins from five games with their 16-12 Guinness PRO14 home victory over Pool 1 front-runners Dragons on Boxing Day, when Jarrod Evans’ eight points proved vital.

Meanwhile, Scarlets demolished Heineken Champions Cup side Ospreys 44-0 in Llanelli, where wings Ryan Conbeer and Steff Evans led a six-try bonanza with two apiece, replacement Kieran Hardy and flanker Josh Macleod also crossed, and Leigh Halfpenny kicked 12 points.

That made it three wins from the last four games for the Welsh region, including a Challenge Cup double over Bayonne, which lifted them into second place behind Toulon - only four points adrift of the French club, whom they host on January 11.

On Saturday, Edinburgh Rugby host Heineken Champions Cup team Glasgow Warriors in the PRO14, seeking quick revenge for their 20-16 loss at their arch Scottish rivals last weekend – which ended the Pool 3 challengers’ six-match unbeaten run.

That sequence included a double over Wasps, which left them only a point adrift of table-toppers Bordeaux-Begles, whom they visit in Round 5 on January 11.

With crucial European Rugby Challenge Cup Round 5 ties looming next month, Cardiff Blues and Scarlets are approaching their games in fine form.