Ospreys v Scarlets: Teams
Ospreys welcome captain Alun Wyn Jones back into the starting XV for their derby clash with the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium.
Last Updated: 04/11/11 3:02pm
Ospreys welcome captain Alun Wyn Jones back into the starting XV for their derby clash with the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
The Wales international returns to the squad along with four of his team-mates from the World Cup, but props Adam Jones and Paul James will miss the clash through injury.
Samoan scrum half Kahn Fotuali'I makes his full debut while the league leaders also hand young wing Eli Walker a first start in the RaboDirect PRO12.
Elsewhere, Dan Biggar replaces Matthew Morgan at fly-half and centre Andrew Bishop is set to become the fourth Ospreys player to make 150 appearances for the region.
Stephen Jones makes a welcome return for the Scarlets, coming back in at fly-half after becoming Wales' most capped player during the World Cup.
Hooker Matthew Rees, who returned from injury off the bench last time out, captains a side which sees Wales centre Scott Williams start alongside youngster Adam Warren, who has scored four tries in four games recently.
Other World Cup returners include Tavis Knoyle, who starts at scrum-half, while head coach Nigel Davies has opted to leave some international firepower on the bench in the form of Ken Owens, Jon Davies, George North and Tonga's Sione Timani.
Scotland international Sean Lamont returns to the wing with Liam Williams also earning a starting place out wide.
The hosts sit at the top of the league standings but will be looking to end a run of three straight defeats in all competitions, while the Scarlets have won their last four.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'I, 8 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Tom Smith, 21 George Stowers, 22 Rhys Webb, 23 Shane Williams.
Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Rob McCusker, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Dominic Day, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Richie Pugh, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jon Davies, 23 George North.