Wales pair Macleod and James return for Scarlets

Scarlets captain Josh Macleod and centre Eddie James return against Harlequins

Wales internationals Josh Macleod and Eddie James will make their returns from injury for Scarlets in their friendly at Harlequins on Friday.

New signing Fletcher Anderson will also make his first appearance for Dwayne Peel's side at number eight in the fixture at Twickenham Stoop (19:45 GMT).

Open-side flanker Macleod, who started both Wales' summer Tests against Japan, has not played since suffering a pectoral muscle injury against Munster on the opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Centre James makes his first outing since April after being sidelined by a back injury.

Anderson slots into the XV after arriving from Crusaders in New Zealand at the start of the month.

Highly-rated Wales Under-19s fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 17, is poised for a first taste of senior action off a 16-man bench.

Peel names a strong side as Scarlets build towards their URC fixture against Glasgow in Llanelli on Saturday, 29 November (19:45 GMT) when they will be without their Wales contingent who face South Africa that afternoon.

Harlequins also feature a raft of regulars – including Alex Dombrandt, Joe Launchbury, Oscar Beard and Will Evans – as they prepare for a Prem Rugby game at Gloucester.

The Scarlets wereplay-off quarter-finalists in 2024-25 but are currently bottom of the URC after suffering four straight defeats to start the season.

The Warriors game is followed by the start of the Champions Cup that pits Scarlets against Bristol and champions Bordeaux-Begles before Welsh derbies over the festive period.

Meanwhile, Scarlets' away game at Connacht in the URC has been arranged for Friday, 12 March (19:45 GMT).

The fixture was postponed in October because the west Walians could not travel to Galway due to Storm Amy.

Scarlets will now play at the Sportsground on the eve of the final round of the Six Nations when Ireland host Scotland and Wales entertain Italy.

Scarlets: Mee; J Davies, J Williams, James, T Lewis; Costelow, G Davies; Mathias, van der Merwe, Holz, Gemine, Lousi, J Taylor, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Ha Thomas, S O'Connor, He Thomas, O Williams, Blacker, Leggatt-Jones, Page, B Williams, McDonald, K Jones, J Morse, H O'Connor.