Leigh Halfpenny: Scarlets full-back ruled out of Pro14 semi-final at Glasgow

Leigh Halfpenny has scored 290 points, including eight tries, in his 17 appearances for Scarlets since he joined for 2017-18

Scarlets full-back Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of their Pro14 play-off semi-final against Glasgow on Friday with a torn hamstring.

However, New Zealander Johnny McNicholl is over a shoulder injury and could play for the first time since February.

"Leigh has a small tear so with any luck, should we get through the semi-final then he may be available for the final," said head coach Wayne Pivac.

"Johnny been's training really, really well for the last couple of weeks."

Pivac added: "The last obstacle for him was full contact and he's done that."

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Scarlets were comfortable winners when the two sides met in the competition on 7 April, but Glasgow were able to finish top of Conference A which secured them a home semi-final.

Scarlets had to overcome Cheetahs in the quarter-final play-off to reach Friday's clash at the Scotstoun Stadium.

It was their third game of knockout rugby since 30 March, after facing La Rochelle and Leinster in the European Champions Cup quarter-final and semi-final respectively.

Glasgow did not get past the pool stages of the Champions Cup, and their last game was their loss to rivals Edinburgh on 28 April.

Pivac said he was expecting a different Glasgow side to the one that lost at Parc y Scarlets.

"We'd like to think the intensity will go up from that game," he said.

"Certainly we know that Glasgow will be a lot better. I don't think they played their best rugby.

"The intent from both sides will be there when it's on to move the ball, but we're expecting a very big physical clash as well."

Pivac said Glasgow having less game time in recent weeks was not a disadvantage as Scarlets were in that situation last year and went on to win the league.

"It [the break] gives you a lot of time behind the scenes to prepare and work on things.

"Just because you're not playing games, it doesn't mean that you're not doing the physical work. We all have large squads so we can run two teams against each other."

He added "the mental side" comes into play now, and "it's who deals with the pressure" the best.

"We're certainly not over-confident, but we've been in a few of these situations now in the last 12 months and the boys enjoy it."