| Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Tuesday, 26 December Kick off: 17:15 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on S4C and via iPlayer; live on BBC Radio Wales (also available on Sounds, Sport & Radio Wales Extra), the BBC Sport website and app. Match report on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Sam Costelow, Josh Macleod and Sam Lousi return for hosts Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against Ospreys on Tuesday.
Ioan Lloyd switches from fly-half to full-back to accommodate Costelow in a side showing seven personnel changes from last weekend’s Challenge Cup loss to Black Lion.
Ospreys welcome back Rhys Davies and Morgan Morris in the back row, but Wales flanker Jac Morgan is injured.
Lock Adam Beard leads the visitors.
Prop Nicky Smith is missing with a shoulder injury with fellow Wales loose-head Gareth Thomas starting, while centre Keiran Williams is still absent after not being involved in last weekend’s defeat to Montpellier.
Scarlets stalwarts
Captain Macleod and Costelow will be making their first Scarlets’ appearances of the season, while Tongan international Lousi returns after two months out with a calf problem.
Macleod, 27, has recovered from an ankle injury to slot in at number eight with Lousi named at blind-side flanker in the absence of injured back-row duo Vaea Fifita and Carwyn Tuipulotu.
Costelow, 22, returns after damaging a hamstring and shoulder while playing for Wales against Barbarians in November, with Lloyd impressing for Scarlets at 10 in his absence.
Costelow’s return is timely for Wales head coach Warren Gatland before the 2024 Six Nations with Dan Biggar having retired and Gareth Anscombe unavailable.
Prop Kemsley Mathias and centre Joe Roberts are also back from injury and go straight into the starting side, while Sam Wainwright features for the first time since the tragic death of his father in November.
British and Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones is on the replacements bench alongside Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy.
Eddie James, Steff Evans, Dan Davis, Johnny McNicholl, Taine Plumtree, Ken Owens, Dan Jones, Isaac Young and Iwan Shenton are also unavailable for selection.
Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jac Price, Sam Lousi, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Josh Macleod (capt).
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Joe Jones, Morgan Jones, Ben Williams, Kieran Hardy, Jonathan Davies, Ioan Nicholas.
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Mat Protheroe, George North, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Fender, Adam Beard (capt), Rhys Davies, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Morgan Morse, Tristan Davies, Luke Davies, Dan Edwards, Luke Morgan.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones & Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
