Scarlets open their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign against Aviron Bayonnais in the south of France on Saturday (13:00) with Scotland international Alex Craig handed the captain’s armband.
Craig leads a side showing 10 personnel changes from last weekend’s narrow defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship.
Behind the scrum, Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee and Ioan Lloyd are the only survivors from the loss at Scotstoun.
Nicholas will be running out for his 100th appearance after making his debut for the club as a 17-year-old back in 2015.
The full-back is joined by fit-again Wales international Tom Rogers and Mee in the back three.
Centre Joe Roberts is set for his first appearance of the campaign after recovering from a knee injury. Roberts partners fellow Wales international Eddie James in midfield.
The experienced Gareth Davies is ruled out by a minor hip issue so Efan Jones comes in for his first start of the season at scrum-half.
In the pack there is an all-new front row of Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans and Sam Wainwright. With Wales international Ryan Elias rested and Marnus van der Merwe ruled out with a hamstring injury, Evans makes his first Scarlets appearance of the season.
Craig partners Jac Price in the second row, while Jarrod Taylor comes into the back row to join Dan Davis and Vaea Fifita.
The replacements include recent arrival, Australian tight-head prop Archer Holz, who is set for his Scarlets debut and Senior Academy forwards Sam O’Connor and Isaac Young, who will make his European bow if he comes off the bench.
Twenty-one-year-old scrum-half Archie Hughes has recovered from an ankle injury picked up in pre-season and is also named in the match-day 23.
Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We are taking on a side who have been going well in the Top14, but you have to enjoy going to France and relish the challenge of playing in front of a noisy, partisan French crowd.
“Two seasons ago, we went on to reach the semi-final of this competition and it was a great time for the club. Traditionally we have been a team that enjoys Europe, we have the depth in the squad that allows us to rotate and still be competitive and we want to be in those knockout matches. It is going to be a tough pool with some good teams, but we back ourselves as a good team as well.”
Scarlets team to play Aviron Bayonnais at Stade Jean Dauger on Saturday, December 7 (1.00pm UK time; epcrTV)
15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Efan Jones; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Shaun Evans, 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Alex Craig (capt), 5 Jac Price, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7, Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.
Reps: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Max Douglas, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Macs Page.
Unavailable because of injury
Marnus van der Merwe, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Blair Murray, Tomi Lewis, Steff Evans, Harri O’Connor, Josh Morse.