Coach Gareth Jenkins has raided the Division One clubs to supplement a Scarlets side without 18 first team players, missing due to international commitments and injury.
And Llanelli’s own under 21s squad fills in the rest of the gaps with the latest entry to the Quinnell dynasty, Gavin Quinnell, set to make his first appearance in the Welsh Premiership from the bench.
Llandovery scrum-half and former Ystradgynlais captain, Rob Walters, answers the Scarlets call for help in the absence of internationals Dwayne Peel and Guy Easterby and Wales U21 Mike Phillips, to take a place in the starting line-up.
And the West Wales club also provide hooker Daniel Smith and scrum-half/wing Jamie Roberts, also set to make Welsh Premiership debuts alongside prop David Maddocks and U21 centre Jonny Lewis, should they be needed from the bench.
‘We have developed a very good relationship with Llandovery and Quins with the likes of Dafydd Jones, Tal Selley and Jamie Cudmore all benefiting from first team rugby with them in the past,’ said Jenkins.
Selley has scored eight tries for Llandovery in outings this season alone and flanker Gareth Williams has been on loan with Carmarthen Quins.
‘We think we can be competitive against Neath,’ added Jenkins. “We have a good coaching ethic at the club which runs right through the squad. These players are rugby apprentices with us which means they are familiar with our playing habits.
‘We have to be realistic about the fixture list, understand the big picture and recognise that demands on international players are going to be great. Players could be involved until April and then Steve Hansen has a warm up schedule for the World Cup in place, so we must utilise our squad.’
Wayne Proctor is one player of international standard Jenkins can rely on and it is safe to say the former Wales wing is due a try this season. Proctor, who is the only man ever to get 100 league tries, has scored in every season for Llanelli since his debut in 1991/92, but has yet to add to his 113 total this year.
And Proctor’s Llanelli, and former Wales, colleague John Davies has warned Neath will not be able to roll the Scarlets over if the club’s senior players have a say in the matter.
‘People will expect Neath to steamroll us because of the changes we have made to the side, but I’m sure we will all be up for it,’ said Davies.
‘It may be the price we pay for our own success that we have to play these matches without our international players, but it is good for the other squad players to get the chance to go to places like the Gnoll.
‘They can’t just be holding tackle bags in training all the time if they are going to become players and they now have the chance to go out and prove something.
‘A successful club season these days is not a case of individual ability, but about playing as a team and this is not a dissimilar side to the one which went to Pontypool and won last week.’
Other changes from the norm for Llanelli see Wales internationals Neil Boobyer start at fly-half, a position he was capped in at Wales U19 level, and Chris Wyatt move from lock to the back row. Full-back Barry Davies will be responsible for kicking duties.
The eight internationals in the Scarlets line-up are Proctor, Matt Cardey, Garan Evans, Neil Boobyer, John Davies, Vernon Cooper, Wyatt and David Hodges (USA)
Llanelli: Barry Davies; Wayne Proctor, Matt Cardey, Tal Selley, Garan Evans; Neil Boobyer; Rob Walters (on loan from Llandovery); Phil John, Aled Gravell (U21), John Davies, Paul Clapham, Vernon Cooper (captain), Chris Wyatt, Ian Boobyer, Dave Hodges
Replacements: David Maddocks league debut (U21), Daniel Smith (on loan from Carmarthen Quins), Gavin Quinnell (U21), Gareth Williams (U21 on loan with Carmarthen Quins), Jamie Roberts (on loan from Llandovery), A. N. Other, Jonny Lewis (U21)
Neath squad: Gareth Morris Allan Bateman James Storey Adrian Durston Dave Tiueti Shane Williams Lee Jarvis Shaun Connor Andy Moore (c) Patrick Horgan Duncan Jones Adam Matthews Andrew Howells Paul Jones (on loan from Ebbw Vale) Adam Jones Andy Newman Lyndon Bateman Ben Davies Alfie Mocelutu Steve Tandy Rowland Phillips Jamie Ringer
