Wyn Jones has returned from injury to give Warren Gatland something to ponder ahead of his Six Nations squad announcement next week.
The Wales loosehead, who was outstanding on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury in October.
Jones has made a full recovery from surgery and has been named as a replacement for the Scarlets' Challenge Cup clash with the Cheetahs in Llanelli tomorrow night.
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The 30-year-old was Gatland's first choice loosehead during the final months of his first stint in charge of Wales.
But Jones is up against it to get back into the squad with Ospreys pair Nicky Smith and Gareth Thomas along with Cardiff man Rhys Carre excelling in his absence.
"It's been a frustrating time for him with injuries but, to be fair, players in his position have fronted up well, so to get more depth in those positions is obviously pleasing," said Scarlets assistant coach Emyr Phillips.
"Over the last two seasons he's [Jones] picked up a few injuries and has found it tough to string a few games together so to have his experience back is a huge boost for us."
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has made two changes to the team which beat Cardiff at the Arms Park last Saturday with prop Kemsley Mathias and Morgan Jones coming into the starting XV while Vaea Fifita moves from the second-row to blindside flanker.
The back division that impressed in the capital remains the same with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back and Johnny McNicholl and Steff Evans on the wings.
Victory for the Scarlets, who are unbeaten in the Challenge Cup, could secure them a place in the knockout stages of this competition.
"We have put ourselves in a strong position in the pool so there is a big opportunity for us in the competition," said Peel. "The next two weekends are massively important for us.”
Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, Joe Roberts, Jonathan Davies (capt), Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, Ken Owens, Javan Sebastian, Morgan Jones, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Dan Davis, Carwyn Tuipulotu. Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Tomás Lezana, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Ioan Nicholas.
Cheetahs: Andell Loubser; Dan Kapepula, David Brits, Reinhardt Fortuin, Munier Hartzenberg; Siya Masuku, Rewan Kruger; Schalk Ferreira, Louis van der Westhuizen, Aranos Coetzee, Rynier Bernardo, Victor Sekekete (capt), Jeandre Rudolph, Siba Qoma, Friedle Olivier. Replacements: Marko Janse van Rensburg, Alulutho Tshakweni, Hencus van Wyk, Mzwanele Zito, Daniel Maartens, Branden de Kock, Robert Ebersohn, Tapiwa Mafura.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
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