Tonga international Vaea Fifita makes his return from injury as Scarlets resume BKT United Rugby Championship action against defending champions Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night (19:35; Premier Sports & BBC Wales).
Fifita hasn’t played since the opening round against Benetton and is one of a number of changes in Dwayne Peel’s starting line-up for the round seven clash.
In a reshuffled back three, Ioan Nicholas starts at full-back, Ellis Mee comes onto the wing for his second URC start of the season and Blair Murray – fresh from Test duty with Wales – is named on the left wing. Tom Rogers is ruled out with the calf issue he picked up during Wales’ autumn series.
In midfield, Johnny Williams combines with Macs Page; Ioan Lloyd wears the No. 10 jersey and Gareth Davies starts at nine for the seventh consecutive match.
Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas make up the front row, Max Douglas reverts to second row alongside Sam Lousi (pictured). Dan Davis is recalled at openside, skipper Josh Macleod switches to blindside and Fifita slots in at No. 8.
Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Alex Craig, Taine Plumtree and Eddie James, who all featured during the Autumn Nation Series are named on the bench, as well as Sam Wainwright, Efan Jones and Charlie Titcombe, who impressed for Carmarthen Quins in Super Rygbi Cymru last weekend,
Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Glasgow are a team who play with high energy, high speed and it is a case of ‘expect the unexpected’ with them. It is going to be a big challenge for us, but one we are excited about, to go and see where we are at, going up against the champions on a fast track. We have spoken about using the opportunity and using the energy and having a go at them.
“I feel we have used the last month really well, the boys have applied themselves, worked hard and are ready for the start of another big block of matches with Europe to come followed by a couple of Welsh derbies.”
Scarlets team to play Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday, November 29 (7.35pm; Premier Sports & BBC Wales)
15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Macs Page, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Max Douglas, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Josh Macleod (capt), 7, Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.
Reps: 16 Ryan Elias. 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Eddie James.
Unavailable because of injury
Sam Costelow, Tom Rogers, Tomi Lewis, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Shaun Evans, Harri O’Connor, Archie Hughes, Josh Morse.
