Scarlets look to veteran Wales and Lions ace Leigh Halfpenny to help steer them through their EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final against Clermont Auvergne in Llanelli on Friday (8pm kick-off).
The 34-year-old full-back comes in for Tom Rogers in the sole change from the team that defeated Brive last time out.
A Heineken Cup winner with Toulon in 2015 and a Challenge Cup victor with Cardiff in 2010, as well as having 99 Wales caps, Halfpenny will bring priceless experience to the Scarlets’ effort.
The prolific points gatherer comes back into the side after his exertions with Wales during the Six Nations.
The only other change to the west Walians’ match-day squad is on the bench where Dan Jones comes in for Rhys Patchell.
Halfpenny, Steff Evans and Ryan Conbeer make up the back three, Joe Roberts and Johnny Williams continue at centre, while Sam Costelow has overcome the dead leg that cut short his involvement against Brive to take his place alongside the in-form Gareth Davies at half-back.
Up front, it’s the same again, with Kemsley Mathias, Wales captain Ken Owens and Scotland international Javan Sebastian in the front row, Tonga duo Vaea Fifita and Sam Lousi at lock and Aaron Shingler, skipper Josh Macleod and Sione Kalamafoni in the back row.
The Scarlets will hope for more fireworks from their Tongan trio of Fifita, Lousi and Kalamafoni, who have been outstanding all season.
Josh Macleod again captains the side, with 23-year-old Mathias starting at loosehead and Wales and Lions prop Wyn Jones on the bench.
For Clermont, a dangerous backline sees Damian Penaud line up on the right wing, George Moala figure at inside centre and Anthony Belleau operate at fly-half, with Fritz Lee skippering the side from No. 8. They will not be easy to beat, but the Scarlets have been playing well of late, especially in Llanelli.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “It will be a great occasion. Clermont have a massive history in European rugby and have some quality and star names. That is what it is all about, a big team, a big crowd, it is a challenge we are all excited about.”
Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ken Owens, Javan Sebastian, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Aaron Shingler, Josh Macleod (capt), Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Kieran Hardy, Dan Jones, Ioan Nicholas.
Clermont Auvergne: Alex Newsome; Damian Penaud, Irae Simone, George Moala, Alivereti Raka, Anthony Belleau, Baptiste Jauneau; Etienne Falgoux, Etienne Fourcade, Cristian Ojovan, Thibaud Lanen, Paul Jedrasiak, Killian Tixeront, Lucas Dessaigne, Fritz Lee (capt).
Replacements: Jean-Maxence Jules-Rosette, Giorgi Beria, Rabah Slimani, Edward Annandale, Jacobus Van Tonder, Sébastien Bézy, Jules Plisson, Bautista Delguy.
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