Scarlets face early season injury crisis

Kemsley Mathias, Josh Macleod, Sam Lousi and Sam Costelow are all unavailable this weekend

United Rugby Championship: Connacht v Scarlets

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway Date: Saturday, 4 October Kick-off: 13:45 BST

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has been dealt several injury blows just two weeks into the new United Rugby Championship (URC) season.

Club captain Josh Macleod suffered a pectoral muscle injury in training - the severity of which is yet to be determined - and is unavailable for Saturday's trip to Connacht.

So too is fly-half Sam Costelow who is going through head injury assessment protocols after suffering a nasty-looking facial injury in the opening round defeat by Munster.

Lock Sam Lousi and prop Kemsley Mathias were both late withdrawals last weekend and are doubts for this month's two-game trip to South Africa.

Lousi is recovering from a back muscle injury while Mathias has an oblique strain.

Second row Jac Price remains unavailable, while Wales duo Ryan Elias (elbow) and Eddie James (back) are continuing recoveries from surgery.

Lock Will Evans remains out with a hamstring problem, while back-rower Dom Kossuth picked up a knee injury playing for Llandovery and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Hooker Marnus van der Merwe is on international duty with South Africa, but fellow front-rower, prop Archer Holz, is close to making a return from a long-term virus.

"This first block [of games] is going to be a real test of our depth, but that's the nature of it," said Peel.

"We are carrying a small squad, but there are opportunities for guys to step in and play and I look forward to seeing some of the young guys go.

"Losing Sam and Kemsley, it has a big effect because they're two good players for us.

"We've lost Josh this week as well, he's a great captain and will be sorely missed, but it's an opportunity for Dan [Davis] and Jarrod [Taylor] to step up in that slot and I'm sure they'll do a good job for us."