After two defeats from their opening two fixtures of the new season, the Scarlets travel to the Kingspan Stadium looking for a change in fortunes.
They secured a narrow 21-20 win in Belfast in February to boost their play-off hopes and complete a season double over the Northern Irishmen and Pivac wants a repeat of that performance this time around.
Scarlets head coach Pivac said: “It doesn’t get any easier going to Belfast but we take confidence from the fact that we had a great performance out there last year so we know within the group of players we have here that it can be done.
“We know it’s going to be a big ask, you’d like to think our backs are to the wall a little bit and we need to start getting results to keep us in touch. We have plenty to play for and we are doing a lot of things right.”
Pivac admits he’s frustrated with the results from their first two fixtures but insists the players are working hard to turn things around.
He added: “We’re not in the position we want to be in, we didn’t plan to be there. The boys are working hard, they are positive but they are frustrated because it’s within our camp and they’re things that we can control.
“It’s disappointing that we’re not converting opportunities two weeks in a row. We are improving but our decision-making is letting us down. We’re hurting ourselves at the moment more than the opposition are.”
Pivac has made changes to the side that suffered defeat to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield last week as he hopes to see his side claim a first scalp of the new season.
In the backline Hadleigh Parkes comes in to partner Jonathan Davies in midfield whilst Liam Williams moves to the wing with Aled Thomas coming in at fullback.
The front five remains unchanged from last week’s starting line-up whilst Lewis Rawlins returns to the side after missing out last week due to illness. He partners James Davies and John Barclay in the backrow.
Scarlets: 15 Aled Thomas, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens [c], 3 Werner Kruger, 4 Jake Ball, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Lewis Rawlins, 7 James Davies, 8 John Barclay
Replacements; Ryan Elias, Luke Garrett, Peter Edwards, Tadhg Beirne, Will Boyde, Aled Davies, Scott Williams, Steff Hughes
