Treviso v Scarlets: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 04/12/15 4:38pm
Scarlets have made four changes, one positional, to the side that secured victory over Zebre at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday.
With seven victories from eight games Scarlets are currently sitting in second position in the Guinness PRO12 table behind league leaders Connacht.
John Barclay remains as captain but moves to his more preferred position of openside flanker at 7 with James Davies sidelined with a foot injury. Morgan Allen comes in at number 8 looking to make his first competitive start for the Scarlets as he makes a return from a bicep injury suffered ahead of the opening round of the PRO12 campaign.
Jake Ball makes a return to the second row with Maselino Paulino moving to the replacements bench. Michael Tagicakibau returns to the wing in the only change to the backline.
Speaking earlier this week head coach Wayne Pivac said: "They will be a very similar threat to Zebre who drove all of their line outs. Treviso are no different and they like to put pressure on through their forwards.
"It will be another tough ask away from home but we're looking forward to the challenge. It's a really important game.
"It's a tricky one this game, it's a must win for us to remain where we are and stay in the race really."
Treviso: 15 Luke McLean (c), 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Edoardo Gori, 10 Jayden Hayward, 9 Chris Smylie; 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 Ornel Gega, 3 Filippo Filippetto, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 5 Jeff Montauriol, 6 Francesco Minto, 7 Alessandro Zanni (c), 8 Dean Budd.
Replacements: 16 Roberto Santamaria, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Tom Palmer, 20 Marco Barbini, 21 James Ambrosini, 22 Enrico Bacchin, 23 Simone Ragusi
Scarlets: 15 Steff Evans, 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Emyr Phillips, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 John Barclay (c), 8 Morgan Allen.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Tom Price, 20 Maselino Paulino, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Gareth Owen.