Macleod back to lead Scarlets against Dragons

Scarlets welcome back captain Josh Macleod for the United Rugby Championship (URC) Welsh derby against Dragons at Rodney Parade on New Year's Day.

The Wales flanker missed the defeat against Ospreys after suffering a head knock against Cardiff.

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made six personnel and five positional changes to his starting side.

Full-back Ioan Nicholas returns, while there is a new-look starting front five of Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Harvey Cuckson and Max Douglas, with Jake Ball missing because of a knee injury he suffered against Ospreys.

Lock Sam Lousi will make his 100th Scarlets appearance if he comes off the bench.

Dragons flankers Harri Keddie and Harry Beddall, hooker Oli Burrows and wing David Richards are the four changes made by head coach Filo Tiatia from the team that lost to Cardiff.

Flanker Ryan Woodman moves into the second row.

It is another URC basement battle between two Welsh sides, with Scarlets lying at the foot of the table and Dragons one place above them in 15th.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said: "We're looking to the challenge, another Welsh derby and representing the jersey and the people of Gwent on New Year's Day.

"It's set to be a huge crowd at Rodney Parade, so we need to embrace the atmosphere and look to build on the performances and what we have achieved on home soil in recent games."

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "The result on Boxing Day was disappointing for us all.

"We have had to lick our wounds and it's been important to recover well and turn our focus to the Dragons. The games are coming thick and fast and this is another important game and another tough game for us.

"They are going well at the moment and we have to make sure we go to Rodney Parade with a spark and full of energy."

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); D Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Hope; Martinez, Burrows, Hunt, Woodman, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Beddall, Wainwright.

Replacements: G Roberts, W Jones, Dlamini, Douglas, Young, R Williams, Westwood, E Rosser.

Scarlets: Nicholas; Rogers, Roberts, James, Mee; Hawkins, G Davies; Mathias, van der Merwe, H Thomas, Douglas, Cuckson, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Elias, J Morse, H O'Connor, Lousi, D Davis, A Hughes, Leggatt-Jones, Page.

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)

Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion & Gareth Newman (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU).