Scarlets welcome back front-line players for derby clash

The West Wales derby sees Scarlets go head-to-head with table-toppers Ospreys with the visitor's keen to secure a victory to get their away form this season up and running and to keep the top-six qualification race alive.

A victory for the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium will end a seven year itch for the region with the last victory over our regional neighbours at their Liberty home recorded in September 2007.

Scottish international John Barclay makes a return after suffering with a thigh haematoma that has kept him out of the side since the Guinness PRO12 defeat to Connacht in November. Barclay will lead the Scarlets at Liberty Stadium in captain Ken Owens (neck) and vice-captain Scott Williams' (shoulder sprain) absence.

Fullback Liam Williams has been cleared fit for duty after suffering a sprained ankle in the region's emphatic victory over Ulster Rugby in the European Rugby Champions Cup a fortnight ago, an injury that kept him out of action for the PRO12 clash against Cardiff Blues last weekend.

Former Auckland Rugby captain Hadleigh Parkes makes his first start for the region as he links up with fellow Kiwi Regan King, who made his 150thregional appearance in last weekend's derby against Cardiff Blues, in centre-field.

Scrum half Aled Davies will make his 50th appearance for the region as he is likely to face in-form international scrum half Rhys Webb.

In the pack Jake Ball and George Earle link up in the second row with Aaron Shingler returning to fitness after an illness kept him out of last weekend's clash.

Talking earlier this week abut the derby clash Scarlets Head Coach Wayne Pivac said: "The reason they're [Ospreys] at the top of the table is that they're very consistent and solid, they have some very good leaders within that team.

"They execute the basics very well - something that we're not doing at the moment. This is probably the biggest difference in the two sides.

"We weren't happy with our game across the board really against the Blues, the scrum started slowly but got better as the game went on. We have some work to do this week to ensure we're disciplined across the 80 minutes."

Looking forward to his first experience of the West Wales derby Pivac went on to say: "Everybody has talked about it since I've been here; everybody has been saying 'just wait until you get to the Ospreys game'. It's going to be exciting."

Scarlets team to take on Ospreys at Liberty Stadium, Saturday 27th December kick-off 5.15pm;

15 Liam Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Kristian Phillips, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Aled Davies, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Emyr Phillips, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 George Earle, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 John Barclay [c], 8 Rory Pitman

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Lewis Rawlins, Will Boyde, Rhodri Williams, Steven Shingler, Steffan Hughes

Players unavailable: Ken Owens [neck], Richard Kelly [fractured arm], Phil John [knee], Scott Williams [shoulder sprain], Rob McCusker [shoulder sprain], Steffan Evans [ankle], Joe Snyman [ankle sprain], James Davies [ankle sprain].

Scrum half Gareth Davies will make a return to action from a long-standing knee injury, suffered in the derby clash against Newport Gwent Dragons in October, on Saturday in Llanelli RFC's Principality Premiership clash over Bridgend.