Head coach Wayne Pivac has urged his Scarlets to keep their GUINNESS PRO12 fate in their own hands as they prepare to return to domestic matters.

After a brief break in GUINNESS PRO12 action to focus on Europe, Scarlets are back with a trip to Connacht on Saturday.

They currently sit top of the table but have crucially only won three of their last six matches, gaining 15 points out of a possible 30.

They are however the best away side in the division alongside Leinster and Pivac knows his side must keep their wits about them if they want to remain in the play-off places come the end of the season.

“It's all in front of us over the next four or five games to stay in the top four if we can, that's certainly the aim. It's going to be a close-run race,” he said.

"We clearly want to remain as high up the table as we can. There are eight or nine sides going for six slots, that doesn't work.

"They (Connacht) play an expansive game of rugby, more so than other sides. We know it's going to be a big day at the office, defensively as well as looking after the ball when we do have it.”

Scarlets are boosted by the return of international full-back Liam Williams who has been released from the Wales camp and will make his first regional appearance since May 2015.

Gareth Owens also returns to the side after being sidelined with a shoulder injury and will line up in the centre alongside captain Hadleigh Parkes.

Rhodri Williams also lines up alongside Aled Thomas while Tom Williams and DTH van der Merwe fill the wing spots.

Young hooker Ryan Elias gets his first start of the season in the pack where he is joined in the front row by loosehead prop Phil John and tighthead prop Rhodri Jones.

Tom Price is joined by fellow lock Lewis Rawlins while Pivac has named an unchanged back row in Aaron Shingler, Will Boyde and Morgan Allen.

For Connacht, the match offers the chance for the team to bid for a rare victory over Scarlets having only beaten them once in their last eight encounters.

They brought their five-game losing run to an end against Russian outfit Enisei last Saturday while their only defeat in their last nine matches at the Sportsground in all tournaments was to Ulster on December 26.

Connacht can also boast the return of a key international with Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw released from international camp to play for his province, while forwards Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillance also return to the fold.

There will be a new half-back pairing with Jack Carty and Caolin Blade both named to start in a youthful backline while Tom McCartney is promoted from the bench to join Denis Buckley and Bealham in the front row.

George Naopu and Jack Heenan are both named to start in the pack while Ronan Loughney, Ian Porter and Craig Ronaldson are all named among the replacements.

"While we were pleased with last week's performance, we know that Scarlets present a completely different challenge,” said head coach Pat Lam.

“They are top of the league and will travel with confidence especially with their PRO12 form away from home.
"We know from our meeting with them last month that it will probably be a closely-fought contest once again and we will have to bring that clinical edge that was on show last week if we are to come on top.

“A win would keep us in the 'top four' where we have been all season and would sign off this block of 16 consecutive games very nicely for us and our supporters."

At Sportsground, 3pm Live on Sky Sports
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 16th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Eddie Hagan O’Connell (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)