Scarlets face the daunting task of travelling to Clermont Auvergne on the opening weekend on the Heineken Cup.
Clermont have a formidable European record at Stade Marcel Michelin where they have not lost in three years, including their last 11 Heineken Cup matches.
The French giants, who were knocked out by eventual winners Leinster in a classic semi-final last April, sit third in the Top 14 standings having won six of their opening eight fixtures.
The Scarlets lie second in the PRO12 and have scored more tries than any other team in that competition with George North claiming an impressive five tries in as many matches.
Scarlets have never beaten Clermont.
The French side have made nine changes to the side that lost to Castres last week, recalling French internationals Aurelien Rougerie and Morgan Parra. Loose forward Gerhard Vosloo starts as he continues his comeback from injury.
Brock James is preferred to David Skrela at fly-half while Thomas Domingo, Benjamain Kayser and Davit Zirakashvili from a formidable front row.
Naipolioni Nalaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lee Byrne feature in one of the most dangerous back three combinations in the competition.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Simon Easterby said the Scarlets are under no allusion as to the challenge ahead of them and said their game would have to be "close to perfect" to get a result.
"It doesn't get much tougher than travelling to Clermont; the history they have in their home ground is second to nobody and we are fully aware of the task ahead of us. There are 47 teams before us haven't been able to win there - so we respect them and what they do at home," he said.
"However, we also have to impose our game on them, as much as their back line is full of quality, ours is too and in terms of quality on paper we are fairly evenly matched.
"Clermont have such depth they have a couple of teams they can put out on the field that are capable of winning any game; they are very extremely well-drilled and very well-coached. It's a mark of a good team that they haven't hit their straps yet but they've been winning games. We know this one will be a target for them at home after losing out to Castres."
Easterby had a full squad to pick from for the big European opener, apart from this season's star wing performer Andy Fenby who is not available for selection after failing to return to fitness from a dead leg injury at last weekend's fixture.
The Scarlets draw on an impressive international clad back-line with seven Wales capped backs on duty; Rhys Priestland at fly-half, Tavis Knoyle at scrum-half, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams in centre partnership, George North and Morgan Stoddart on the wings and Liam Williams at full-back.
Up front, the Scarlets put a new South African duo into the second-row with this season's signings Joe Snyman and George Earle combining for the first time. Impressive young Wales U20 tight head Samson Lee wins his place in the starting line-up after his man of the match performance last weekend against the Dragons alongside the very experienced front-row performers Matthew Rees at hooker and prop Phil John in an unchanged front-row.
The teams:
ASM Clermont Auvergne: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Gerhard Vosloo, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Elvis Vermeulen, 21 Loic Jacquet, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 22 David Skrela, 23 Benson Stanley.
Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Morgan Stoddart, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Rob McCusker (capt), 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 George Earle, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Kieran Murphy, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Gareth Maule.
Date: Saturday, October 13
Kick-off: 16:40 local (15:40 BST)
Venue: Stade Marcel Michelin
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Paul Haycock (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
Timekeeper: Bruno Bessot (France)
Assessor: Claudio Giacomel (Italy)
Citing commissioner: John Cole (Ireland)
Comments
Rosbif says...
...so you disagree with my assessment paddy91317?
remember, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, or better or worse. I'm just stating the current perspective of most French clubs. Look at Montpellier's team against Toulon. They're resting their 3 best players. Look at Castres last night vs Ulster. They fielded an entire 2nd XV. Compare that to Munster away at Racing. Or Leinster's line-up vs Exeter. Doesn't look to me like either club is holding back on available first team players. Does it look different to you?
if so, what is your perspective?
(i'm not referring to your psychological assessment of my personality - i think i got that point in your last message)
Posted 15:04 13th October 2012
paddy91317 says...
cough cough ROSBIF cough cough want some ketchup for that chip on your shoulder buddy
Posted 14:06 13th October 2012
Rosbif says...
....and remember, the lower they slip down the T14 league table, the more they will start "resting" players in the HCup games. It's really the complete opposite to the Irish Pro12 teams. Clermont will cruise at half throttle with an 2nd XV in the HCup so they can keep their 1st XV sharp for domestic duties. Whereas the Irish can get a top 6 finish in regular Pro12 using mainly their 2nd XVs all season, then play their 1st XV for the Pro12 knock-out phase. That's the difference!!
Posted 12:17 13th October 2012
Rosbif says...
....yes backingleinster, but they LOST last week to Castres, right? That means dropped points. That means they might not qualify for next season's tournament. Unless they win it this year. Or win the Amlin.
After all, if you start dropping points against Castres, what are you going to do when you're faced with Toulon, Toulouse, Racing, Biarritz, Stade, Perpignan, the list goes on....
Posted 08:18 13th October 2012
BackingLeinster says...
9 internationals recalled to the team who didn't play last week. I'm aghast, was one of the French teams resting players before the Heineken cup. Surely they don't do that.
Posted 15:56 12th October 2012