Leinster have won their opening RaboDirect PRO12 encounter just once since 2003 and Scarlets boss Simon Easterby is looking to take full advantage of the Leinstermen’s traditional slow starters’ tag on Friday evening. Despite the departures of George North and Andy Fenby, Easterby is convinced Scarlets still have enough firepower this season to make their mark, although he will need to replace the 23 tries the pair contributed last term. Scarlets have been victorious in their round one encounter in the tournament four times in the past five seasons, while their only home reversal to an Irish province in the PRO12 since September 2011 was to Ulster last December. Easterby is set to unveil a new-look back-three for tomorrow's RaboDirect Pro12 opener against Leinster at Parc y Scarlets. Former Osprey Gareth Owen will start in the No. 15 jersey, with Liam Williams switching to the wing alongside Kristian Phillips. Wales’ outside-half Rhys Priestland has been named at No.10 after recovering from the Achilles injury which ruled him out of Wales’ Six Nations success and the Lions tour earlier this year. "We've lost a couple of good players, so there's always going to be a bit of a transition in that part of our team," said Easterby. "It gives those players an opportunity to stake their claims. They have to work as a unit and be interchangeable. "We're confident we've got the players who are versatile enough to do that.” Leinster are missing their five Irish Lions but are boosted by the timely return of several senior players for the trip to Llanelli. Jimmy Gopperth will make his senior debut at half back alongside Eoin Reddan – fresh from his successful return last weekend against Northampton Saints to make his 80th Leinster appearance. Gordon D'Arcy returns to the starting line up after missing the PRO12 and Amlin Challenge Cup victories in May and will form a centre partnership with Fergus McFadden. Tradition says the team are slow starters and although it hasn’t dented their capacity to regularly win silverware, it’s an area to be tidied up says half-back Reddan. “He (Matt O’Connor) knows what he wants,” said Reddan. “He has incredible knowledge of the game and we want to get going early on in the year because that’s somewhere we have fallen down in the recent past. I mean we haven’t won a first game for seven seasons. “He’s very positive, very fresh and he’s a good communicator and he’s good at teaching people what he wants them to do, which is key because knowing what you want your team to do and teaching them that are two different things.” At Parc y Scarlets, 7.05pm. Live on BBC Cymru Wales Referee: John Lacey (28th competition game) Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Jon Mason (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Russell Howell (WRU) TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)
