Scarlets have home help

Llanelli v Connacht Wrexham, 5.30pmNo visiting team will perhaps be more disappointed than Connacht that Llanelli aren't hosting them in their Stradey Park home. Amazingly, Connacht have never lost in three visits there, culminating in perhaps their finest performance of last season's League campaign when they nailed a bonus point victory at the death.

Instead, a little unnervingly, this will be the Scarlets fourth visit to Wrexham, where they have beaten the Borders, Glasgow and Leinster and will be seeking to end a pattern in meetings between these two sides which has yet to see a home win.

Admittedly, Gareth Jenkins's side are experiencing another rocky start to the campaign, and defeats to Edinburgh and Cardiff either side of a win over the Borders leave them with just one win in their last six league outings.

In the worst example thus far of the ripple effects of the Anglo-Welsh Powergen Cup, Llanelli will be playing their third match in seven days.

Michael Bradley has made four changes to the starting XV that crashed 34-3 to Edinburgh last weekend. In the front row the injured Ray Hogan makes way for Dan McFarland with Adrian Clarke coming in on the bench.

In the back row Michael Swift and Brendan O'Connor come in for John Muldoon and Matt Lacey, while at scrumhalf Tom Tierney replaces Chris Keane.

On a line through Cardiff, Connacht must have a chance, and Llanelli's heavy load this week ought to increase those odds. Even so, the return of Kiwi Regan King gives Llanelli a strong-running midfield, not to mention Tal Selley on the wing, which should revive the home side somewhat.

Llanelli: L Byrne; T Selley, D James, R King, D Daniels; G Bowen, C Stuart-Smith; I Thomas, A Gravelle, J Davies, I Afeaki, A Jones, J Mills, S Easterby (capt), A Popham. Replacements: R Davies, C Hawkins, D Duley, G Quinnell, L Davies, M Hercus, P Mackey.

Connacht: D Slemen; M Mostyn, D Yapp, K Matthews, C McPhillips; P Warwick, T Tierney; D McFarland, J Fogarty, S Knoop, C Short, A Farley (capt), M Swift, B O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: C Venter, A Clarke, R Loughney, J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Keane, D Riordan.

Referee: David Changleng (SRU).

Head-to-heads: (03-04) (CC Q-f) Llanelli 12 Connacht 14; (CL) Connacht 20 Llanelli 25; Llanelli 33 Connacht 33. (04-05) Llanelli 21 Connacht 29; Connacht 11 Llanelli 18.

Forecast: Llanelli to win.

Also playing: Tomorrow - Border Reivers v Ospreys (4pm).