Scarlets 'have to back it up' against Benetton

Nigel Davies says Scarlets have come a long way in the few weeks he has been in charge.

Last weekend's last-gasp victory at home to Ulster was only a third win of their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign, but one that moved them off the foot of the table.

Scarlets will now be looking to string two wins together for the first time this season when they travel to Treviso on Friday to take on Benetton (19:45 GMT).

And while they are without nine players who are involved in Wales' Six Nations squad, it paves the way for 18-year-old fly-half Carwyn Leggat-Jones to make his first URC start, with new loan signing Billy McBryde providing cover on the bench.

There are 11 other starting changes with captain Johnny Williams partnering a fit again Joe Roberts in the centre.

Jac Davies, Macs Page and Tomi Lewis make up the back three, with Gareth Davies adding experience at scrum-half.

Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe and Archer Holz are named in the front row, while there is another first URC start for Jac Price, who partners Sam Lousi at lock.

Max Douglas is back from injury to take his place in the back row alongside Jarrod Taylor and Fletcher Anderson.

Jake Ball has recovered from a concussion to take his place among the replacements and is set for his 100th URC appearance.

"It's two big games for us, we came out on the right side of the Ulster game and it's a massive week for us again," said Davies, who replaced Dwayne Peel as interim director of rugby earlier this month.

"I've been happy with what we've been able to achieve, we've come quite a long way, but we have to back it up with another performance.

"I'm not really worried about where we are in the league, I'm taking each week as it comes."

Benetton will be looking to bounce back after defeat by Cardiff in a scrappy Arms Park affair last weekend.

Despite their inclusion in Italy's Six Nations squad, forwards Marcos Gallorini, Jadin Kingi and Giulio Marini all start while Destiny Aminu is on the bench.

Davies admits the Italian outfit are a quality side and Scarlets will need to be at their very best to taste victory.

"They're coached well and they play a good brand of rugby. They're going to be big, physical and although they have players missing [with the Six Nations] because of their recruitment they're going to be strong," he said.

"There's a particular type of way that you need to play against the Italians, they're very emotional and they will be really pumped up, particularly for the first 20 minutes, so how we manage that period will be very important."

Benetton: Smith; Mendy, Odogwu, Fekitoa, Ratave; Farias, Uren (capt); Gallo, Maile, Gallorini, Marini, Snyman, Izekor, Kingi, Fa'aso'o.

Replacements: Bernasconi, Aminu, Pasquali, Scrafton, Casartelli, Garbisi , Gallagher, Drago.

Scarlets: J Davies; Page, Roberts, Williams (capt), Lewis; Leggatt-Jones, G Davies; Hepburn, Van der Merwe, Holz, Price, Lousi, Douglas, Taylor, Anderson.

Replacements: Harry Thomas, Morse, Henry Thomas, Ball, D Davis, Blacker, McBryde, Badham.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Assistants: Clara Munarini & Bisetto Luca (Italy)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)