Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac is hoping his side’s superb home form can propel them back into the GUINNESS PRO12 top six, starting this weekend as they welcome champions Leinster.

The Llanelli outfit remain unbeaten in eight league games at the Parc y Scarlets this season, and Pivac insists a good result on Saturday puts them in pole position to close the gap on sixth-placed Connacht.

The Scarlets boss receives a huge boost ahead of the game, with international centre Scott Williams returning to make his first appearance since January, partnering Regan King in the centres.

Hadleigh Parkes also moves to the wing in place of Michael Tagicakibau, Lewis Rawlins moves to openside flanker with Aaron Shingler out with a shoulder injury, and South Africans Johan Snyman and George Earle will scrum down in the second room.

“This game on the weekend is hugely important for us, if we can get a win here I think we'll be fine for top six when you look at the remainder of the season,” said Pivac.

“No disrespect to the opposition we play, or who Connacht play, but they've got a lot tougher run-in; they're playing teams above them, we play teams below us.

“On that basis if we can stay in touch with them after this weekend we won't have to worry about other results too much.

“Leinster have been in the top four on numerous occasions in the last few years. They've done that by having depth in their squad, they probably felt a bit unlucky to come away with a draw last weekend away from home.

“They bounced back from the game against Dragons. We expect them to be fighting for the top four spot. We expect a big challenge from them and they bring a lot of experience with them this time of year.”

Meanwhile Matt O’Connor has rung the changes after last weekend’s 9-9 draw with Ospreys in Swansea, with nine changes to the line-up in Llanelli.

Luke Fitzgerald and Mike McCarthy come back into the side on the left wing and second row respectively, having been retained by Ireland last weekend, while Cian Healy (making his first start since round one), Sean Cronin and Marty Moore form an entirely new front row.

Gordon D'Arcy and Ben Te'o continue their partnership in the centres, but in the half-backs Eoin Reddan replaces Isaac Boss alongside Jimmy Gopperth – who kicked all of Leinster’s points last Friday.

Jack Conan is deployed at the base of the scrum after recovering from an ankle injury to join Rhys Ruddock in the back row, and Leinster’s skipper knows it will be a tough test for his side with both teams looking to find some form.

“Scarlets are in a similar position to us at the moment,” he said. “They're kind of scrapping around for points, missing a few players – they'll probably get a few back this week.

“They're really looking to catch up ground on some of the teams that are just ahead of them, and they seem to be going really, really well at home this year.

“We can expect a similar challenge to last weekend I think. We're going to have to scrap for everything and find it very difficult to get a win but that's definitely our intention.”

At Parc y Scarlets, 5.15pm. Live on Sky Sports
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 67th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Chris Williams (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)