Coach Gareth Jenkins will welcome back centre and captain Leigh Davies, winger Mark Jones and lock Vernon Cooper the game with the Castletown men, after the trio were left out of Steve Hansen’s squad of 22 for the Scotland Test.
The inclusion of Davies and Jones, as well as former Wales international Matt Cardey and in-form players Garan Evans and Barry Davies, gives Jenkins additional firepower in the backline as the Scarlets travel to Virginia Park.
‘We haven’t been able to announce the side till quite late, because we weren’t sure which of our players were needed by the national side, but we’re glad to accommodate these three guys,’ Jenkins said.
‘We’ve still got a Heineken Cup quarter-final to build up to, and although the three players haven’t been able to train with the squad at all, it will be good to give them a game.’
But Jenkins will have to field a side without ten of his top players Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Dafydd Jones, Matthew Watkins, Iestyn Thomas (Wales duty), Mike Phillips, Bryn Griffiths (Wales Under-21), Simon Easterby, Guy Easterby (Ireland duty), and Martyn Madden (injured).
Jenkins said he respected Caerphilly, despite the fact the Castletown men are anchoring the Premiership table with just one win from six matches.
‘We’ve had a good look at Caerphilly and they’re a dangerous side,’ said Jenkins, whose team have a three win, three loss record in the competition this season.
‘They’ve gone close to a couple of good wins this season and you know they’ll always give you a good game of rugby. Mark Ring is a very good coach and he’s instilled a sense of adventure and a sense of rugby knowledge into the team.’
Caerphilly beat Llanelli 14-9 in their first Welsh Premiership match in 1996-97, but the Scarlets have won all nine games since. Last season, Llanelli racked up 62-18 and 54-6 victories against Caerphilly on their way to the Welsh/Scottish League title.
