Heineken Cup Pool 4: Scarlets v Clermont match preview
The Scarlets host last year's Heineken Cup finalists Clermont in the second of their back-to-back contests on Saturday.
Last Updated: 13/12/13 4:09pm
Parc y Scarlets will be rocking when the Welsh side look to remain in the running to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition from Pool 4.
Clermont secured a 32-11 bonus-point victory over the Scarlets at the Stade Marcel Michelin last weekend, so revenge is firmly on the mind of head coach Simon Easterby.
"This is a major game for us this weekend, it is vital we get a result on Saturday afternoon if we want to progress in this group," he said.
"We will have to keep tempo in our game but we have to stop them at source first and think a little better and hold onto the ball more.
"Playing these big, high profile games is huge experience for a number of our young players who have come through and developed further as a result of the opportunities we are handing them particularly in Europe.
"We hope to have a good home crowd behind us on Saturday and it will be great to be back at Parc y Scarlets and with our supporters creating a big European match day atmosphere - it will help lift and inspire our players even more."
Six changes
Clermont have decided to make six changes to their starting XV with Jean-Marcellin Buttin coming in at full-back in place of Welshman Lee Byrne.
Mike Delany makes his first start in the Heineken Cup at fly-half, working with Thierry Lacrampe at half-back. The pack welcomes back Clement Ric, Julien Pierre, Damien Chouly and Julien Bardy.
Centre magician Regan King is expected to receive a warm reception from the home crowd on his return to his former club.
Clermont currently hold a three-point lead at the top of the group and have only lost once in their last 11 Heineken Cup pool games.
Watch Scarlets v Clermont, live on the red button, Sky Sports 2 HD from 3.40pm
Scarlets: 15 L. Williams, 14 Reynolds, 13 Maule, 12 S. Williams, 11 J. Williams, 10 Priestland, 9 Davies; 1 John, 2 Owens, 3 Lee, 4 Ball, 5 Earle, 6 Turnbull, 7 Barclay, 8 McCusker.
Replacements: 16 Phillips, 17 Evans, 18 Jones, 19 Kelly, 20 Snyman, 21 R. Williams, 22 Thomas, 23 Warren.
Clermont: 15 Buttin, 14 Sivivatu, 13 Rougerie (c), 12 King, 11 Nalaga, 10 Delany, 9 Lacrampe; 1 Domingo, 2 Kayser, 3 Ric, 4 Cudmore, 5 Pierre, 6 Bonnaire, 7 Bardy, 8 Chouly.
Replacements: 16 Paulo, 17 Chaume, 18 Kotze, 19 Hines, 20 Lee, 21 Radoslavjevic, 22 James, 23 Nakaitaci.
