Tom James is handed a Scarlets debut after offering a timely reminder of the quality the ex-Wales wing showed over more than a decade at Cardiff Blues.
James proved a cut above for the Scarlets A team in their Celtic Cup win over Munster A, scoring a try and having a hand in a number of others in an impressive 46-28 victory.
His reward is an immediate upgrade to the Scarlets senior side for Friday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun (7.35pm).
All in Welsh rugby will surely wish him well.
The 32-year-old returned to the game last season after taking time out to deal with depression.
He scored 60 tries for the Blues , a record for the region for whom he made 163 appearances in two spells over 11 years.
And the 12-cap player quite looked the part last weekend with a strong-running display that caused all kinds of problems for Munster’s second string.
He replaces Ryan Conbeer out wide as the lone change to the team that dug deep to see off Connacht at a rain-soaked Parc y Scarlets in the first round of PRO14 matches.
James makes up a back three that also includes Johnny McNicholl and Wales international wing Steff Evans, while Paul Asquith makes his 50th appearance for the Scarlets, partnering Steff Hughes in midfield.
Dan Jones and Kieran Hardy are among 12 home-grown players in the match-day 23, the pair combining at half-back, with the pack and bench retained en bloc.
“It was a great win for us against Connacht and It is important now that we keep improving week by week,” said Scarlets backs coach Dai Flanagan.
Scarlets v Glasgow (Scotstoun, Friday, 19:35)
Glasgow Warrirors: Ruaridh Jackson, Kyle Steyn, H. Jones, Stafford McDowall, Rory Hughes; Brandon Thomson, Nick Frisby; Oli Kebble, Grant Stewart, D’arcy Rae, Kiran McDonald, Tim Swinson, Rob Harely, Callum Gibbins (capt), Matt Fagerson.
Reps: Johnny Matthews, Alex Allan, Adam Nicol, Tom Gordon, Chris Fusaro, Jamie Dobie, Paddy Kelly, Glenn Bryce.
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom James, Steff Hughes (capt), Paul Asquith, Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Marc Jones, Samson Lee, Lewis Rawlins, Steve Cummins, Tom Phillips, Josh Macleod, Uzair Cassiem.
Reps: Taylor Davies, Phil Price, Werner Kruger, Josh Helps, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Angus O'Brien, Corey Baldwin.
