Scott Williams excited by Regan King centre partnership at Scarlets

Centre Regan King has returned to Scarlets on a two-year deal

Scott Williams hopes his partnership with centre Regan King can yield plenty of tries for Scarlets this season.

New Zealander King, 33, has returned to the Welsh region after re-signing from French side Clermont Auvergne.

The pair are expected to line up in midfield in Saturday's Pro12 opener against Ulster at Parc y Scarlets.

"Regan is world class and playing with him is really good. Hopefully he'll be able to put me away for a couple of tries this season," Williams said.

"His experience... what he brings is huge and I'm sure the younger boys are learning a lot off him.

"Hopefully I'll learn a couple of things off him as well."

King, capped once by New Zealand, spent six years with the Llanelli-based side in his previous spell before joining Clermont in 2011.

Scott Williams suffered a serious shoulder injury playing for Wales in the 2014 Six Nations

Williams suffered a shoulder injury during the 2014 Six Nations loss to Ireland in February and needed surgery which then ended his season.

But the 23-year-old Wales centre, who has won 25 caps, is eager to return to action for the new campaign.

"I'm quite excited to be honest... the hard work in pre-season that everyone has put in since June has been... showing on the field," Williams said.

"Before the [pre-season] Bath game I was just dying to play, because all I've been doing since February is training.

"I'll probably need a couple more games to get the timing and everything right, but those things will come, but [I'm] definitely feeling fit."

There is one fewer player competing to play at centre for Scarlets after Gareth Maule opted to join Bristol on Tuesday.

"We're going to miss him a little bit, but it's a new challenge for him now in Bristol and I wish him the best," Williams added.