European Rugby Champions Cup: Scarlets v Leicester Tigers preview

After a valiant effort in round one against defending champions Toulon, Scarlets will be hoping they can clock up their first points of the tournament when they face Leicester on Saturday evening.

Their fruitless efforts at Stade Felix Mayol means this weekend’s clash with the Tigers, who beat Ulster to take second spot in the pool, is a must-win for the Welsh region.

History does not favour Wayne Pivac’s side, though, with Leicester winning six of the seven previous meetings between the teams, while Scarlets have lost four of their last five against English opposition.

Scarlets must also break the Tigers’ defensive stronghold with Julian Salvi making a chart-topping 22 tackles last weekend.

Scarlets coach Pivac has named an unchanged XV, showing belief and confidence in the side that took Toulon to the wire at Stade Felix Mayol.

Scott and Liam Williams were impressive in the backline while Samson Lee, Emyr Phillips and Rob Evans certainly held their own in the scrum.

The hosts will field no less than eleven internationals in the starting XV, six of which have been named in Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the upcoming November Test Series.

International talent

"I'm very much looking forward to it. These sides don't come and play us every day of the week and it's good to see international players from other countries playing in your backyard," said Pivac ahead of the Scarlets' home bow in the 2014/15 competition.

Meanwhile, Anthony Allen returns to the Tigers line-up and resumes at centre on his return from injury, teaming up with Vereniki Goneva after Manu Tuilagi's injury in the win over Ulster.

News of Tuilagi’s injury comes as a blow to club and country, but Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill has no plans to rush the England centre back.

“Manu is a very powerful athlete and he’s got a very big season with the World Cup at the end of it. So I think it’s important we get him 100 per cent fit to make sure his groin is completely right.

“We know how good he is – we just have to get him fit.”

Miles Benjamin starts on the wing and Owen Williams is at fly-half ahead of Freddie Burns.

Marcos Ayerza makes his 50th European appearance since his club debut in 2006. He becomes the eleventh Tigers player to reach this landmark in European competition.

Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Michael Tagicakibau, 12 Scott Williams (c), 11 Kristian Phillips, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Emyr Phillips, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Johan Snyman, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 John Barclay, 8 Rory Pitman
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 James Davies, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Jordan Williams.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Matthew Tait, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs (capt); 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Leonardo Ghilardini, 3 Fraser Blainman, 4 Brad Thorn, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Jordan Crane
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 David Mele, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Matt Smith.