Emyr Phillips: Wales hooker returns for Scarlets friendly

Emyr Phillips made his Wales debut against Japan in June 2013

Wales hooker Emyr Phillips is set to make his first Scarlets appearance this year following two operations on an injured shoulder.

The 28-year-old will play against the Dragons in a pre-season Friendly at Rodney Parade on Friday.

Phillips first suffered the injury in Scarlets' loss to Ospreys in December, and dislocated the same shoulder on his return for Llandovery in April.

"I've come through some sessions and it's feeling good," he said.

"First and foremost the most important thing is to make sure the shoulder stays in this time.

"I've had a few comebacks now and the nerves have been okay so hopefully it will be the same again on Friday."

Phillips, capped three times, was part of Wales' squad for the November 2014 Tests but missed the Six Nations.

Head coach Wayne Pivac confirmed Phillips would "get some game time" against the Dragons.

The New Zealander said Phillips would have an important role to play during the early part of the new Pro 12 season when Scarlets will be without a number of senior players on World Cup duty.

Phillips says he has a long term goal of returning to the Wales set-up, but is trying not to consider whether he would have made Warren Gatland's World Cup squad if he had not been injured.

"You try not to think about it really, it's out of my hands. Obviously I would have loved to have been involved but things didn't turn out that way.

"I'm just happy to be fit and back playing.

"My shoulder is feeling really good, I want to get as much game time as possible and I want to be involved in the big games.

"Obviously I want to be back involved in the Welsh set-up somewhere down the line, but for now it's about playing as much rugby as I can and staying fit."

Scarlets have five Pro12 matches during the World Cup.