Fifita back as Wales duo out for Scarlets at Glasgow

Vaea Fifita signed a contract extension in the summer having joined Scarlets from Wasps in 2022

United Rugby Championship: Glasgow v Scarlets

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Date: Friday, 29 November Kick off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Scrum V Live, BBC Two Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

Wales duo Tom Rogers and Sam Costelow miss Scarlets' trip to face United Rugby Championship (URC) defending champions Glasgow on Friday night.

Tonga number eight Vaea Fifita returns after being sidelined since the opening game of the season with a knee problem.

Blair Murray - fresh from making his Wales debut during the autumn series - is named on the left wing, with Test prop Henry Thomas in the front row.

Eddie James, Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias and Taine Plumtree, who all featured for Wales, and Scotland lock Alex Craig, are on the bench.

Costelow came off at half-time against South Africa with a head injury.

Rogers, after impressing against Australia, had been named initially to face South Africa, but was a late withdrawal from the starting side with a calf problem.

Ellis Mee comes in on the right wing for his second URC appearance of the season, with Ioan Nicholas at full-back.

With Costeow absent Ioan Lloyd wears the 10 jersey while Gareth Davies starts at nine for the seventh consecutive match.

In the pack Max Douglas reverts to second row while Dan Davis is recalled at openside and skipper Josh Macleod switches to blindside as Fifita slots in at number eight.

The hosts give starting debuts to prop Fin Richardson and lock Jare Oguntibeju while back row Macenzzie Duncan is set to do so from the bench as head coach Franco Smith welcomes back a host of Scotland stars who comfortably beat Australia last weekend.

Dwayne Peel’s side lie sixth in the URC table having picked up three wins and a draw so far in the six games they have played.

"Glasgow are a team who play with high energy, high speed and it is a case of 'expect the unexpected' with them," said Peel.

"It is going to be a big challenge for us, but one we are excited about, to go and see where we are at, going up against the champions on a fast track. We have spoken about using the opportunity and using the energy and having a go at them.

"I feel we have used the last month really well, the boys have applied themselves, worked hard and are ready for the start of another big block of matches with Europe to come followed by a couple of Welsh derbies."

Glasgow boss Franco Smith said: “The Scarlets have been in good form this season, and their mix of dynamic forwards and exciting backs can cause problems from anywhere on the field."

Glasgow: Josh McKay; Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Ally Miller, Henco Venter, Jack Mann.

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Allan Dell, Sam Talakai, Macenzzie Duncan, Gregor Hiddleston, Angus Fraser, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Ryan Elias. Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Taine Plumtree, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Eddie James.

Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR)

Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White & Ru Campbell (SRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (SRU)