Wales international fly-half Sam Costelow is one of five personnel changes to the Scarlets starting XV for the BKT United Rugby Championship round two clash with Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm; Premier Sports).
Costelow missed last weekend’s opener against Cardiff, but has come through his head injury protocols to wear the No. 10 jersey in the only change to the Scarlets back division.
Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Macs Page again line up in the back three, Eddie James and Joe Roberts continue their midfield partnership, while Costelow links up with Dane Blacker at half-back.
There are four personnel and two positional changes in the pack.
The fit-again Kemsley Mathias comes in at loose-head prop, while Harri O’Connor starts at tight-head – the pair packing down with Ryan Elias in an all-Wales international front row.
New signing Alex Groves (pictured), who made his home debut last weekend, starts in the second row and partners Sam Lousi, who switches from blindside flanker.
There is a reshuffle in the back row. Skipper Josh Macleod moves to the No. 6 jersey, allowing Dan Davis to come in at openside. Twenty-year-old Osian Williams again starts at No. 8.
The bench includes the return of Wales international duo Gareth Davies and Johnny Williams.
Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “Reflecting on last weekend, there were some good parts in there, evidence of the work we have been doing, but obviously areas to work on as well, which has been a focus this week.
“The Dragons are a team moving forward, they play an expansive game and have a pack of forwards who can compete. They will probably be disappointed at their draw in Benetton given their second-half performance and I’m sure they will be looking forward to welcoming us on Saturday.
“URC is a long season, but we know every point is important in this competition. We have got ambitions and clear goals which are driving everything and to achieve those ambitions we need to be winning. We need to do our talking on the field.”
Scarlets team versus Dragons RFC (Rodney Parade, 15:00; Premier Sports)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Harri O’Connor, 4 Alex Groves, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Josh Macleod (capt), 7 Dan Davis, 8 Osian Williams.
Reps: 16 John McKee, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Will Evans, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Johnny Williams.
Unavailable because of illness/injury
Archer Holz, Taine Plumtree, Fletcher Anderson, Corey Domachowski, Isaac Young, Elis Price.