The Scarlets are determined to retain the services of hooker Matthew Rees who has been linked with a move to Cardiff Blues.
That is the word from Scarlets forwards coach Danny Wilson, who admitted the Llanelli-based region could lose the Wales international.
Rees is out of contract at the end of the season and is wanted by the Blues to bolster their front-row stocks.
"I would like him to stay because he is a world-class hooker," Wilson told Walesonline.
"His set-piece work is excellent and you want to work with players of that international calibre and leadership.
"His leadership skills are invaluable and he helps bring on the likes of Samson Lee and other young props.
"It is a possibility with any player within a squad who is out of contract at the end of the season they could move on.
"Until a player has made a decision or formally signed there is always a possibility of a player leaving.
"Matthew has not been with us for the last month because he has been away on international duty and focussing on that.
"So not much discussion has been had on that subject at the moment. He is back in the fold with us and he is an important player in our squad."
Although the Scarlets are keen to hold onto Rees, they can also call on the services of another international hooker in Ken Owens and a promising youngster in Kirby Myhill, who has trained with Wales this year, while Emyr Phillips has impressed recently.
"This is a position where we have strength in depth," added Wilson.
"We have Ken Owens who is of a similar vein to Matthew and we are lucky to have Emyr Phillips and Kirby Myhill who are two names for the future.
"Emyr has impressed me in the last couple of weeks with his performances after coming back from a long-term injury.
"So it is good we have a couple of young hookers coming through who will wear that Scarlets shirt in the future."
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