Southern Kings face a daunting trip to Wales on their Guinness PRO14 debut as they take on last season’s defending champions Scarlets on Saturday at the Parc y Scarlets at 5.30pm. Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac, who has described the Southern Kings as an unknown force, has warned his team they will have a target on their back this season as they look to defend their Guinness PR014 title.

What’s at stake: Scarlets are hoping for a much-improved start to the new campaign; last season saw Pivac’s men fail to register a point from three successive defeats.

Pivac has admitted himself that the Scarlets have experienced an indifferent pre-season and has told his players the title-winning ‘honeymoon’ is done and dusted.

Meanwhile the Kings will be looking to make a winning start on their first taste of the Guinness PRO14.

Team news (Scarlets): Full-back Leigh Halfpenny will make his Scarlets debut after moving to the region from Toulon and he is joined in the back three by Johnny McNicholl and last season’s Guinness PRO12 top try-scorer Steff Evans.

The pack is led by an all-international front row in Rob Evans, Ryan Elias and Samson Lee. International lock Jake Ball is joined in the second row by Tadhg Beirne while Aaron Shingler and James Davies join John Barclay in the backrow.

Team news (Southern Kings): There are just two players in the Southern Kings starting line-up that took the field in their final Super Rugby game of 2017 against the Cheetahs at Port Elizabeth back in July. Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids will field an experienced team, which includes players who have plied their trade in the Guinness PRO14 previously, as well as Super Rugby competition. The side will be led by captain, Michael Willemse.

Talking points: The arrival of British & Irish Lion Halfpenny to the Scarlets starting XV after a stint in France with Toulon has certainly hogged the headlines in the build-up to the game. Halfpenny, who toured with the Lions in New Zealand over the summer, will further strengthen a Scarlets back-line who sparkled last season and will be charged with filling the considerable boots of departed Wales and Lions teammate Liam Williams.

Key battle: The battle up front will go a long way to deciding the outcome of Southern Kings debut appearance in the Guinness PR014. Skipper Michael Willemse, who will play at hooker, will relish the opportunity to go head-to-head with Wales newboy Ryan Elias at scrum time.

The Scarlets have a wealth of international experience in their pack, meaning Willemse, who has been capped five times for South Africa’s U20 team, will know his team will need to compete in the set-piece or face a baptism of fire in Wales.

Key stat: Scarlets will be hoping to pick up where they left off last season, with ten of the side that started May’s Guinness PRO12 final against Munster taking to the field at Parc y Scarlets.

While the Southern Kings will be stepping into the unknown on their Guinness PRO14 debut, Scarlets will be hoping familiarity and consistency of selection will prove the key ingredient on Saturday night.

Scarlets: L Halfpenny; J McNicholl, H Parkes, S Williams, S Evans; R Patchell, G Davies; R Evans, R Elias, S Lee, J Ball, T Beirne, A Shingler, James Davies, J Barclay

Replacements: E Phillips, D Evans, W Kruger, D Bulbring, W Boyde, J Evans, R Jones, P Asquith

Southern Kings: M Banda; Y Penxe, B Klaasen, L Vulindlu, S Sithole; K Coleman, R van Rooyen; S Ferreira, M Willemse, R de Klerk, J van Vuuren, D van Schalkwyk, K Majola, A Ntsila, V Sekekete

Replacements: S Coetzee, L Pupuma, E Swanepoel, B de Wee; S Mdaka, G Masimla, N Dukisa, J Nel

TV: Sky Sports Action: (KO 5.15pm)

Match officials – Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU). AR1: Sean Gallagher (IRFU). AR2: Wayne Davies (WRU). TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie