Kieran Hardy and Tomos Williams will go head-to-head in a Wales shoot-out as the Scarlets entertain Cardiff Blues in Saturday’s Rainbow Cup clash.
The duo are front-runners for the No 9 spot in Wayne Pivac’s team for this summer’s internationals against Canada and Argentina.
Both men will be glad to be out there, having each been hit by hamstring injuries during the Six Nations.
It will be Williams’ first start for the Blues in six weeks and just his second since January.
To add further scrum-half spice, Lions squad member Gareth Davies will be on the bench for the Scarlets, with fellow Welsh international Lloyd Williams providing the visiting back-up.
The hosts show five changes, with Dai Flanagan acting as interim head coach following the departure of Glenn Delaney.
Flanagan gives opportunities to centre Ioan Nicholas and lock Josh Helps, with the 23-year-old Nicholas making his first PRO14 appearance since October 2019.
Ryan Elias captains the side, with fellow hooker Ken Owens among the subs, alongside Lions pal Gareth Davies.
For the Blues, Wales Six Nations squad members Willis Halaholo and Jarrod Evans join Tomos Williams in returning to the starting line-up, as Dai Young also makes five changes.
With Owen Lane suspended for three games following his sending against the Dragons last weekend and Max Llewellyn (shoulder) crocked, Ben Thomas moves from fly-half to partner Halaholo in the centre.
Kristian Dacey comes in at hooker, with the versatile James Ratti being tried out at No 8, while front row duo Liam Belcher and Corey Domachowski return from injury to provide cover on the bench.
Both teams have one win and one defeat from their opening two Rainbow Cup matches.
Scarlets : Leigh Halfpenny; Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies, Ioan Nicholas, Johnny McNicholl; Angus O’Brien, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias (capt), Alex Jeffries, Josh Helps, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, Ed Kennedy, Jac Morgan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Steff Thomas, Javan Sebastian, Morgan Jones, Iestyn Rees, Gareth Davies, Dan Jones, Joe Roberts.
Cardiff Blues: Hallam Amos; Jason Harries, Willis Halaholo, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Cory Hill, Josh Turnbull (capt), Olly Robinson, James Ratti.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Gwilym Bradley, Lloyd Williams, Dan Fish, Harri Millard.
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
