Prop Dylan Evans is ready for his biggest challenge yet in the GUINNESS PRO12 after he was handed his first Scarlets start for the clash with a resurgent Benetton Treviso. Scarlets have named a strong squad for the encounter in Llanelli, with Wales internationals Aled Davies and Jake Ball both released back into the starting XV while winger DTH van der Merwe returns after he missed out on the loss to Edinburgh. Perhaps most eye-catching of all, Scotland’s try-scoring hero against Italy, John Barclay, is back in the side – but starts at No.8 rather than openside flanker due to Morgan Allen and Rory Pitman injuries. Scarlets’ last three matches in the GUINNESS PRO12 have all been decided by a solitary point, whilst seven of their last eight contests have had a winning margin of just two points. So though Treviso remain bottom a Scarlets victory will not come easy, especially after the Italians recently beat both Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues and narrowly lost to Munster last weekend. And with fellow loosehead Rob Evans impressing for Wales, Dylan Evans knows this is his chance to make an impression against a strong Treviso pack. "I'm enjoying myself here, I've settled in well and I'm having a bit of game time as well, which is great," he said. "I'm trying to keep in the fold and when the opportunities come it is up to me to take them, especially with Rob (Evans) doing so well with Wales at the moment. “There is a lot of competition at loosehead, Phil (John) is still playing some great rugby, and that competition can only be good for my development." There is only one change to Treviso’s team from the slender loss to Munster as Tommaso Iannone comes in for Ludovico Nitoglia on the wing. For the fifth straight game, the half-back pairing will be Sam Christie at fly-half and Alberto Lucchese at scrum-half. Treviso have won their last two games against Welsh regions but have never before won three in a row in the GUINNESS PRO12 against Welsh opponents. Scarlets have won their last five fixtures with Treviso since the Italians’ 41-17 victory at Parc y Scarlets in May 2013 – their only victory in Wales in the last four seasons. And Treviso flanker Marco Barbini says his side can ill-afford a slow start on Friday. “Like in other games, against the Scarlets at home we lost because of our own mistakes in the closing minutes. At their place it will be different,” he said. “They are a team that is playing well and tries to close out the game in the first 20-30 minutes. They start very strongly so we have to be good in the first few minutes to contain them, which is often the hardest part of away games. “Some of our mistakes (against Munster) in managing the game meant that it slipped through our fingers. “We conceded penalties in our own 22 which allowed them to get easy points. We spent time in their half but didn’t get many points. In the set-piece it went well and I think on Friday we will need to do the same.” At Parc y Scarlets, 7.05pm Live on BBC Cymru Wales Referee: John Lacey (IRFU 50th competition game) Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges, Wayne Davies (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU) TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)
