Ken Owens is back in contention for the Scarlets after his return to action with Carmarthen Quins last weekend, while Johnny McNicholl, Steff Evans and Leigh Halfpenny are also ready to return.
The Wales and Lions hooker returned to playing last weekend after 11 months out with a back injury, enjoying 40 minutes for the Quins against Swansea RFC in the Welsh Premiership. Wales trio McNicholl, Evans and Halfpenny would offer the injury-hit Scarlets much-needed numbers in the back-three, with the club having lost Tom Rogers and Ioan Nicholas in recent weeks.
However, while any of Owens, McNicholl, Evans and Halfpenny could feature against Benetton this weekend, Dwayne Peel will have to wait a little longer for Scott Williams to return.
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"We lost Ioan Nicholas on the weekend. He came in at 15 after Tom Rogers and Johnny McNicholl were unavailable," said the Scarlets head coach. "I thought he had a really good game and we were disappointed to lose him at half-time as he's a footballer who can play across the backline.
"The obvious guys who are coming back, Johnny McNicholl is back in contention. Leigh's been training, Ken's been training. They're close to being available, if not in contention.
"It's pleasing to have those guys back, especially Johnny who was looking forward to having a big season before suffering that head knock in the first game. Shaun Evans at hooker is available as well.
"Steff Evans is available for selection. Scott Williams isn't yet. I can't give you a date when he will be available, but he's working his way through that. It'll be good to have him back, with Joe Roberts and Ioan unavailable. We're sort of thin there. We've got two young boys in Eddie James and Iestyn Gwilliam pushing and they've been going well in training. But it'll be good to have him back as he brings a lot of leadership for us.
"Apart from that, I don't think there's anyone else who will be returning. Some of the guys coming back from operations in the summer still aren't there."
Speaking specifically about Owens, Peel admitted there was no need to rush back the 35-year-old thanks to the strong stable of hookers in Llanelli. But he did add that he was pleased not only with Owens' comeback for Carmarthen, but his attitude towards turning out in the Welsh Premiership.
"He's back in the mix in terms of playing and being available," he added. "With the school of hooker we've got here, there's five quality hookers.
"Shaun was playing well for us last year, Ryan Elias has started the first two games and Daf and Taylor are in that mix as well. We've got a good bunch and Ken will definitely put himself up for selection amongst that.
"I just wanted him to get minutes, to be honest with you. The reality is that you can do as much training as you want, but he's in a very difficult position on the field.
"He has to go live at scrums, take part at lineouts and executing his throws, and just getting around the field. That was the purpose of it. It was purely a training exercise as part of his return-to-play protocol.
"That is what we felt was the best way of doing it. Credit to him, he approached it really well. He was keen to do it.
"It shows good practise for all of our players that Ken, as a British Lion, was prepared to go and play club rugby. If you look at our numbers of the guys who have gone to play club rugby for either Quins, Llandovery or Llanelli this year, it's pretty high and we want to encourage guys to play rugby. In fairness to him, he was really keen for it.
"He's been fine. He was back in training on Monday after. There was no problem whatsoever and he's ready to go."
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