Scarlets welcome back their international stars for Friday’s final pre-season clash against Saracens at Parc y Scarlets (19:30).
Director of Rugby Nigel Davies has named a strong 30-man squad for the contest, with a number of returning internationals coming into the match-day group as preparations intensify ahead of the big Welsh derby URC opener against Cardiff at Parc y Scarlets on September 26.
Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Sam Costelow, Ryan Elias, Joe Hawkins and Henry Thomas make their first appearances of the campaign as the countdown continues to the start of a new competitive season.
Josh Macleod captains the side from openside flanker.
Murray, Mee and Macs Page make up a razor-sharp back three, while James partners Joe Roberts – who crossed for two tries in the win at Exeter – in midfield.
Costelow will make his first Scarlets appearance since the Ulster game in January and partners Dane Blacker at half-back.
Up front, there’s a first start for loose-head prop Corey Domachowski, who packs down in the front row alongside Elias and Gabe Hawley.
Will Evans and Harvey Cuckson make up the second row, while Sam Lousi is named at blindside, Osian Williams – who celebrates his 20th birthday on Friday – is at No. 8 and skipper
Corey Domachowski, Elias and Gabe Hawley form the front row, with Harvey Cuckson and Will Evans combining in the second row.
Sam Lousi starts at blindside flanker alongside Macleod and Osian Williams in the back row.
There’s considerable experience and competition within the wider squad, with a bench that includes new signings John McKee and Gareth Anscombe as well as tight-head prop Thomas and British & Irish Lions scrum-half Gareth Davies.
Scarlets Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “Each of our three pre-season games have deliberately had a slightly different purpose. Exeter gave us some really encouraging signs on the game model and processes worked on in pre-season against strong opposition.
“In the Llandovery game we exposed our wider squad and a number of development players to senior professional rugby against a strong Dragons team which was an important part of our future planning, knowing there was risk attached to it.
“The emphasis changes again with Saracens as we bring internationals back as greater competition develops across the squad.
“We’re getting closer to the competitive group and combinations that will take us into the URC, but this isn’t about simply picking a stronger team and expecting everything to work. We need to see the same processes and behaviours we’ve been developing throughout pre-season stand up when the intensity and pressure increase.
“From the pre-season games, we’ve identified areas for improvement across discipline, the breakdown and our line-out and defensive maul, and we’re working hard on them. Friday is about taking another step forward.
“Saracens will bring physicality, pressure and a strong competitive edge, which is exactly what we need at this point in our preparation. We then turn our attention turns completely to Cardiff.
“We’ve been clear throughout the summer about our ambition. We want to become a team capable of competing for the URC play-offs. That won’t happen because of what we say; it will happen through what we repeatedly deliver.
“Pre-season has given us information. Now we’re getting very close to the point where performance and results matter.”
Both the Castell Howell South and Owens North stands are open for the match, which is free to season ticket holders.
Tickets are available at tickets.scarlets.wales or from the ticket office on 01554 292939.
Scarlets team v Saracens (Friday, September 17, 19:30)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Corey Domachowski, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Gabe Hawley, 4 Will Evans, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Osian Williams.
Reps: John McKee, Josh Morse, Henry Thomas, Jac Price, Gabe Cahsay, Dom Kossuth, Joe Denman, Harri O’Connor, Sam O’Connor, Archie Hughes. Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Joe Hawkins, Ioan Nicholas, Ioan Jones.