Both changes are up front, with Elias switching with Marnus van der Merwe in the front row and Jac Price coming in for Alex Craig at lock.
The back division is given a vote of confidence following last weekend’s bonus-point victory over the same opponents at Parc y Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.
Blair Murray, Macs Page and Ellis Mee make up the back three, Joe Roberts and Eddie James are again in midfield at centre, while Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies continue to hold the reins at half-back.
Elias packs down between Alec Hepburn and Henry Thomas in the front row. Price comes in to partner Sam Lousi and it’s Vaea Fifita, Taine Plumtree, and skipper Josh Macleod again in the back row.
Peel has once more opted for a six-two split on the bench, with van der Merwe and Craig lining up alongside fellow replacements Sam O’Connor, Sam Wainwright, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Efan Jones and Ioan Nicholas.
Peel speaking ahead of the match said:
“We realise it will be a different challenge this week. It takes me back to the old December double headers in the Heineken Cup.
“Momentum is important and we need to carry that final sixty minutes of last Saturday into this game. Ospreys will be pumped for it, we need to make sure from an emotional point of view we are right there and then we can play our game on the back of that.
On his team selection, Peel revealed that the tie has come too soon for fly-half Sam Costelow, whilst centre Johnny Williams and utility back Tom Rogers remain sidelined.
“Sam is in training, it is frustrating because the bone hasn’t quite healed to put him on the field so that is a waiting game.
“Johnny is nursing a calf issue and we expect him back in a couple of weeks. Tom Rogers will be returning in the next couple of games, his cast is off and he’s running.”
Scarlets XV to face Ospreys:
Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee, Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies
Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Jac Price, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita,
Josh Macleod (captain), Taine Plumtree.
Replacements:
Marnus van der Merwe, Sam O’Connor, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Nicholas, Dan Davis.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
