United Rugby Championship: Connacht v Scarlets (Sat) - Johnny Williams back from ban for visitors

Johnny Williams has played seven internationals for Wales

Wales centre Johnny Williams returns from suspension to line up for Scarlets' United Rugby Championship trip to face Connacht in Galway.

Scrum-half Efan Jones will make his first league start with Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy not being released by Wales.

Sam Lousi will captain the side at blind-side flanker.

After four replacement appearances, hooker Eoin de Buitlear makes his first Connacht start.

De Buitlear is among five home starting changes as Peter Dooley, Gavin Thornbury, Sean Jansen and Byron Ralston - also back from suspension - are recalled.

Scarlets centre Williams has served a six-week ban after being sent off in January for a dangerous tackle against Clermont in the Challenge Cup.

Ioan Nicholas slots in at full-back to fill the void left by the departing Johnny McNicholl.

New signing Jarrod Taylor has joined the injury list which includes Josh Macleod, Tom Rogers, Taine Plumtree, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Ken Owens, Isaac Young, Ed Scragg.

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt); Peter Dooley, Eoin de Buitlear, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Gavin Thornbury, Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Denis Buckley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Sean O'Brien, Michael McDonald, Jack Carty, Conor Oliver.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tomi Lewis, Johnny Williams, Eddie James; Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Efan Jones; Wyn Jones, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jac Price, Sam Lousi (capt), Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Eduan Swart, Steff Thomas, Joe Jones, Morgan Jones, Ben Williams, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Ryan Conbeer.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Assistant referees: Andrew Cole & Paul Haycock (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)