Wasps destroyed the Llanelli Scarlets with a six-try blitz to keep their Heineken Cup defence alive and kicking, heading into a tense final round of pool matches.

Wasps were never in any danger of suffering the same fate as Leicester, who were knocked out after yesterday's defeat to Edinburgh, and travel to Munster on Saturday knowing victory will book them a place in the quarter-finals.

Such are the complicated permutations in the so-called `group of death' that even a narrow defeat at Thomond Park could give them a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Given how tight it is in Pool Five, it was imperative Wasps earned a bonus point in beating the struggling Scarlets - and it was in the bag before half-time.

Fraser Waters scored the first after just five minutes and was followed over by Phil Vickery, David Doherty and Dominic Waldouck.

Wasps continued in a similar vein after the break, with Rob Hoadley and Paul Sackey adding to the Scarlets' woe, while the electric Danny Cipriani converted four from five before leaving to a rapturous ovation.

Llanelli have proven to be the pool's whipping boys and remain the only team in the competition not to have won a single point.

They arrived at Adams Park ravaged by injuries - with Wales international half-backs Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel, New Zealand centre Regan King plus loose-forwards Alix Popham and Gavin Thomas all absent.

Wasps were forced into late changes of their own, Doherty replacing Mark van Gisbergen at full-back - but it did not disrupt them one iota.

Irish scrum-half Eoin Reddan served notice early with a quick tap penalty and break towards the Scarlets 22, where he found Cipriani on his shoulder.

Llanelli never really cleared their lines; then with just five minutes gone, Reddan took another quick tap on half-way - and Waters scythed through the broken Scarlets defence.

Wasps worked their second try just 11 minutes later, and it was finished in comprehensive fashion by Vickery - who was driven over at short range following another elusive break from Cipriani.

The try's foundation lay deep in Wasps territory, where the excellent Tom Rees pounced on a loose ball at the back of a line-out - and James Haskell drove it up field, sucking in Scarlets defenders.

Wasps then spun the ball wide where Cipriani sliced through an outnumbered Scarlets defence, before Doherty and then Waters took it to within a yard of the try-line.

As Reddan waited for the ball to be recycled, Wasps formed a four-man pod which powered Vickery over for the score. It was an ideal start for Wasps in their hunt for the bonus point.

Wasps' progress was checked by a determined finish from Scarlets prop Deacon Manu, who powered over in the corner.

But then Scarlets could not deal with the pace and movement of Wasps' midfield. Waldouck slipped his man, and Riki Flutey dabbed a neat grubber kick - which bounced up perfectly for Doherty to score.

Wasps then spun the ball wide after Haskell secured clean line-out ball, and Waldouck exchanges passes with Sackey to clinch the vital bonus point just before half-time.

The pattern continued after the interval.

Haskell stripped the ball from Llanelli scrum-half Liam Davies inside the Scarlets 22 - and with Wasps enjoying a wealth of options out wide, Waldouck found Hoadley who scored with his first touch after replacing Flutey.

Wasps remained camped in the Llanelli half - and as they cranked up the pressure, Scarlets winger Darren Daniel was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Wasps took full advantage - and Lawrence Dallaglio charged off the back of a scrum and slipped a neat pass out the back of his hand to replacement scrum-half Mark McMillan, who drew the tackle and sent Sackey over for the final score.

London Wasps (26) 40
Tries: Waters, Vickery, Doherty, Waldouck, Hoadley, Sackey
Cons: Cipriani (4), Doherty
Pen: Godman

Llanelli Scarlets (7) 7
Try: Manu
Con: Preistland
Pen:

London Wasps: M van Gisbergen; P Sackey, F Waters, R Flutey, D Waldouck; D Cipriani, E Reddan; T Payne, R Ibanez, P Vickery, S Shaw, G Skivington, J Haskell, T Rees, L Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: J Ward, T French, T Palmer, J Hart, M McMillan, R Hoadley, J Worsley.
Mark van Gisbergen (15) and Joe Worsley (22) face late fitness tests. If they are ruled out they will be replaced by David Doherty and Richard Birkett respectively.

Llanelli Scarlets: C Thomas; D Daniel, M Watkins, G Evans, M Jones; R Priestland, L Davies; I Thomas, J Hayter, D Manu, A Eustace, S MacLeod, D Jones, S Easterby (capt), N Thomas.
Replacements: D George, B Douglas, D Day, J Bater, G Cattle, J Davies, G Evans.
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)