Wales openside Josh Macleod has been handed the Scarlets captaincy for the Welsh team's Challenge Cup clash with the Cheetahs in Parma.
Macleod, who made his Wales debut against Georgia this autumn, will lead the side in the absence of experienced centre Jonathan Davies who has been rested.
The 26-year-old has overcome his fair share of adversity over the past couple of years, having recovered from a ruptured achilles in February 2021, and is one of the most respected players in the Scarlets squad.
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The game in Italy will be a landmark occasion for Wales hooker Ryan Elias who will make his 150th appearance for the West Walian side, with Tongan No 8 Sione Kalamafoni pulling on the Scarlets shirt for the 50th time.
Vaea Fifita has recovered from the blow to the nose sustained against the Lions and pairs up with Tonga team-mate Sam Lousi in the second row. With Blade Thomson ruled out, Sione Kalamafoni reverts to his more accustomed No. 8 role in a back-row containing Macleod and Aaron Shingler.
Harri O’Connor fractured a bone in his hand against Bayonne so Javan Sebastian comes onto the bench, as does Wales and Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
The Scarlets got their Challenge Cup campaign off to a flying start last Sunday with a 39-7 victory over Bayonne in Llanelli but will want to back it up with another win over dangerous South African side the Cheetahs.
“The key for us is consistency and building on last week’s win and the boys have been driving that this week," said Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel. "We want to move forward in this competition, that is the attitude we will take.”
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Steff Evans, Ioan Nicholas, Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Willgriff John. Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Aaron Shingler, Josh Macleod (c), Sione Kalamafoni. Replacements: Ken Owens, Steff Thomas, Javan Sebastian, Tom Price, Tomas Lezana, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny.
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