Scarlets went down 31-7 in a physical pre-season encounter with Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
On a grey day in the East Midlands, the clash turned into a bruising hit out that both camps will get plenty out of.
Scarlets had their moments with Max Douglas and Blair Murray catching the eye on their debuts following their summer arrivals, while there was no shortage of physicality in defence.
But a Tigers side containing a number of Premiership regulars were convincing winners in the end.
Scarlets spent most of the opening quarter in defensive mode, but new signing Murray gave the vocal travelling support an indication of his attacking threat with a brilliant counter.
Scarlets lost captain Archie Hughes on 13 minutes – the scrum-half helped from the field with a leg injury and replaced by Efan Jones.
Tigers did make their early pressure pay when flanker Hanro Liebenberg pounced from close range for a try converted by Fijian fly-half Ben Volavola, but Scarlets’ response was swift.
New Wales cap Eddie James made a dent in the Tigers’ defence with a trademark carry and from the penalty that followed, Scarlets went to the corner.
A well-worked line-out drill saw the visiting pack drive over the whitewash and it was back-rower Jarrod Taylor who touched down. Ioan Lloyd converted brilliantly from the touchline.
There was a real edge to the Scarlets’ defence, but the visitors were unable to prevent Liebenberg claiming his second, with the abrasive flanker powering over from five metres out.
Vaea Fifita went on a rampaging cross-field run inside the home 22 just before the interval, but it was Tigers who led 12-7 at the break.
The home side extended their lead with their third try nine minutes after the restart through hooker Charlie Clare from a quick tap penalty.
Scarlets then had a couple of line-out drives close to the home line, but were repelled by the Leicester defence.
As both sides emptied their bench, Tigers had their fourth try through replacement Josh Bassett before Will Wand completed the victory in the final move of the match.
Scarlets play a final warm-up before their URC opener in Treviso when they head to North London to take on Saracens on Friday night.
Leicester – tries: H. Liebenberg (2), C. Clare, J. Bassett, W. Wand Cons: B. Volavola (2), T. Whiteley.
Scarlets – try: J. Taylor. Con: I Lloyd
Scarlets: T. Rogers (repl J. Davies 64); E. Mee, M. Page, E. James (repl G. McDonald 54), B. Murray (repl I. Badham 75); I. Lloyd (repl C. Titcombe HT), A. Hughes (repl E. Jones 13); S. O’Connor (repl J. Hughes 59), M. van der Merwe (repl R. Elias 54; repl H Thomas 78), S. Wainwright (repl G. Hawley 38), J. Price, M. Douglas (repl W. Evans 54), J. Taylor (repl W. Plessis 75), D. Davis (repl B. Williams 62), V. Fifita (repl C. Tuipulotu 54).