ROB McCusker believes Scott Williams's decision to stay at Parc y Scarlets has provided a timely boost for the region.
Simon Easterby's side go into tonight's crunch game with Glasgow with the fallout from George North's imminent departure to Northampton still hanging over them.
North's switch to the Aviva Premiership has played its part in a major rift between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions.
It has also led some to question the Scarlets' ambitions. But with Wales centre Williams set to agree a contract extension, McCusker reckons there are some positive signs coming out of Pemberton.
"It's great for the club, it shows the club's ambitions that we can keep people like Scott," said the skipper.
"He's been here a while. I'm sure he's had lots of good offers, but it's great that he's staying. There's a lot going on, but the people who are here at the moment are what's important and we're focusing on what we can do before the end of the season.
"Everything else is out of our hands so while we're here we'll try to achieve something special before going our separate ways."
The Scarlets take on Glasgow knowing that one slip could end their RaboDirect Pro12 play-off hopes.
They are currently a place behind fourth-placed Ospreys, but have three home games before the curtain falls on the campaign, while their rivals have a more difficult run-in.
After Glasgow's visit, the Scarlets face the Blues and Treviso.
"Against the teams who haven't got anything to play for, they can just come out and play," said McCucker.
"Tonight we've both got something to play for — there are not going to be that many chances out there.
"The team who takes those chances when they do arrive will be victorious.
"We have some young guys, but guys who have been exposed to a lot of high-level rugby and some pressurised situations — World Cup semi-finals and Six Nations deciders and the rest.
"I think we're more than equipped."
On paper, this appears the toughest of the Scarlets' remaining fixtures.
The Scottish side sit top of the table and have only lost five league matches all season.
"We seem to say it's a big game every week, but in the context of our season, this is the biggest," added McCusker.
"Glasgow are pushing for silverware and going particularly well. This is huge for our ambitions of finishing in the top four.
"Finishing fifth the last couple of seasons has been agonising. We haven't quite done enough. But we've done a lot of hard work this year, as we do every year, and we feel like we're that little bit closer.
"I think if we didn't make it this would be the toughest year of all.
"It's in our hands."
