Wales internationals Eddie James, Ryan Elias and Taine Plumtree return to the Scarlets starting line-up for Saturday’s Welsh derby against Cardiff Rugby in round 15 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (17:30; Premier Sports).
The Scarlets side shows four personnel and one positional change from the team that took the field against Leinster in Dublin last time out.
Behind the scrum, James has recovered from a shoulder issue and returns at outside centre in the only change to the backline.
Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee make up the back three; James partners Johnny Williams in midfield, with Joe Hawkins and Dane Blacker continuing at half-back.
Up front, Elias has come through his return-to-play protocols following his head knock against Zebre and packs down alongside Kemsley Mathias and Archer Holz.
Sam Lousi partners Max Douglas in the second row, while there is a reshuffle in the back row.
Plumtree has overcome the shoulder injury that ended his Six Nations prematurely and he starts at blindside flanker; Jarrod Taylor switches to openside and Fletcher Anderson wears the No. 8 jersey, as well as the captain’s armband. Josh Macleod is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury.
On the bench, Marnus van der Merwe is another who has passed his head injury protocols, Josh Morse makes his return from injury, while Harri O’Connor gets the nod as tight-head cover. The rest of the replacements include Jac Price, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Joe Roberts.
Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: ““There’s a real clarity around what we’re building. This team reflects our intent, to be physical, to be connected and to play with energy.
“It’s good to have players back available, that naturally lifts the environment and drives competition, which is exactly what we want.
“We understand the challenge ahead of us this Saturday and we respect it, but this is about us our standards, our identity and how we perform.
“Every game now is a marker for us. It’s about setting expectations, driving standards and building something that carries into next season.
“These games mean a lot to our supporters, and that matters to us as a group. They have been brilliant for us this season throughout home and away. We need to bring the right mindset, the right intensity and do justice to the occasion.”
Scarlets team to face Cardiff Rugby on Saturday, April 18 (17:30; Premier Sports)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Fletcher Anderson (capt).
Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Joe Roberts.
Unavailable because of injury
Josh Macleod, Sam Costelow, Jake Ball, Jac Price, Alec Hepburn, Ioan Nicholas, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.