Scarlets may have won seven of their eight GUINNESS PRO12 games this season, but head coach Wayne Pivac insists they will not be taking bottom-of-the-table Benetton Treviso lightly.

The Welsh side sit second in the GUINNESS PRO12 table and travel to Stadio Monigo on Saturday as heavy favourites.

But Pivac has warned his players to expect a similar forwards-led threat as that of Zebre, who they beat 20-12 at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.

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.”
On Sunday captain John Barclay will switch to his preferred position of openside flanker with James Davies sidelined through injury.

There will be three further changes to the XV as Morgan Allen comes in at No.8 for his first competitive start for the Scarlets following his bicep injury and second row Jake Ball and wing Michael Tagicakibau also return.

Benetton Treviso have made five alterations to their line-up as the whole of the back row is changed, with Dean Budd, Alessandro Zanni and Francesco Minto coming in.

Wing Edoardo Gori and second row Teofilo Paulo also start.

Benetton Treviso slipped to a 15th successive GUINNESS PRO12 defeat in Glasgow on Friday but at least picked up a fifth losing bonus point for this campaign.

Scarlets have lost just one of their last dozen GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures: the 19-15 loss at Leinster in round seven.

The Welsh side have not lost to an opponent from Italy since Treviso visited Parc y Scarlets in May 2013.

The two sides have met on ten previous occasions in the GUINNESS PRO12, with Treviso gaining four victories to the Scarlets six – which included their last two visits to Stadio Monigo.

Stadio Monigo, 3pm local time (2pm UK & Ireland). Live on RAI Sport
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 55th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Giuseppe Vivarinni, Simone Boaretto (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)