Wales prop Samson Lee returns to action for the Scarlets on Friday in the Welsh Guinness Pro14 derby clash against the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets.
Lee’s last appearance came in the European Rugby Champions Cup clash against Bath Rugby in October and he been sidelined since with an Achilles tendon injury.
He is one of 11 changes to the Scarlets side that secured victory over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on New Year’s Eve.
Coach Wayne Pivac has named a fresh front row for the derby clash with Rob Evans and Ken Owens also making a return to the starting XV.
Australian Steve Cummins and South African David Bulbring pair up in the second row with Aaron Shingler and John Barclay returning to the starting line-up alongside Sunday’s man of the match James Davies.
In the backline injuries have forced a reshuffle with Rhys Patchell moving to fullback with injuries to both Johnny Mcnicholl (shoulder) and Leigh Halfpenny (pectoral muscle). Tom Prydie keeps his place on the wing with Ioan Nicholas coming in for Paul Asquith who’s unavailable due to illness.
Hadleigh Parkes moves to inside centre with Steff Hughes coming in at outside centre. Aled Davies is named at scrum-half with Dan Jones outside him.
Pivac said: “These derbies have been tight affairs. We’ll be focusing on ourselves. It’s another derby and we’ve seen over the last two matches how tight they can be. That game will no doubt be another exciting game.
“We’ve done the double over the Ospreys and the Blues and the Dragons are the last Welsh team for us to play, it’ll be the first time we play them this season. It’s important for us to keep winning at home.”
Dragons coach Bernard Jackman has made six changes to his starting team.
There is just one change in the backs, as wing Pat Howard replaces Ashton Hewitt, who suffered a neck strain last weekend, whilst five changes have been made to the forwards.
The front row is all change as loose-head prop Luke Garrett gets the nod alongside hooker Liam Belcher and tighthead prop Nicky Thomas, who takes on his original team whilst on loan with the Dragons.
Lock Joe Davies returns, joining Dragons skipper Cory Hill in the second row. The back row also has one change as 18-year-old flanker Taine Basham makes his debut. Aaron Wainwright and James Benjamin make up the rest of the back row.
Jackman said: “The Scarlets are just so confident at the moment, they just find a way to win. I haven’t seen their game against the Blues but I have seen the result and they just seem to be able to win those tight games.
“They are a team which is high in confidence and we have to freshen up and go there and be prepared to fend for our lives.”
“They are the form team in Wales and they will be challengers for the Guinness PRO14 championship title again and we will just see how we fare against them.”
Scarlets v Dragons on Friday 5th January, kick-off 7.35pm, at Parc y Scarlets.
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Steff Hughes, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Ioan Nicholas, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Aled Davies, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens ©, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Steve Cummins, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 James Davies, 8 John Barclay
Replacements; Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Simon Gardiner, Lewis Rawlins, Will Boyde, Jonathan Evans, Rhys Jones, Morgan Williams
Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Pat Howard, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Dan Babos; 1 Luke Garrett, 2 Liam Belcher, 3 Nicky Thomas, 4 Joe Davies, 5 Cory Hill ©, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 8 James Benjamin.
Replacements; Ellis Shipp, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Rynard Landman, Robson Blake, Sarel Pretorius, Angus O’Brien, Jarryd Sage
