Flanker Macleod spent large parts of the prior campaign on the sidelines making just three appearances with ankle and knee injuries and has not played for nine months since facing Clermont in January.
The Wales international, however, is closing in on a return to action and the combative back-rower will lead the west-wallians for a second successive campaign.
Macleod has made 115 appearances for the Scarlets since his debut in 2015 and gained his first Wales cap against Georgia in November 2022. He was named in Wales’ 2023 Rugby World Cup training squad before being released because of a shoulder issue.
In the 27-year-old Pembrokeshire-born players absence, veteran Gareth Davies has led the side. A job the Wales man will continue this weekend in Italy against last season’s surprise package. Benetton reached the play-offs as they enhanced a growing reputation in the competition.
“It is a massive honour for me and my family,” said Macleod.
“Personally, it has been a rocky couple of years, some pretty tough moments, but I am hoping to get back out there very soon.”
In a much-changed Scarlets team this weekend, Wales fly-half Ioan Lloyd starts at centre, where Scarlets have injury issues.
Eddie James, Ioan Nicholas and Joe Roberts are sidelined and Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has opted for Lloyd at inside centre while Wales centre Johnny Williams is on the bench after recovering from a foot problem.
Lloyd partners Macs Page, who impressed for Wales Under-20s last season and who makes his first URC start.
Summer recruits Ellis Mee and Blair Murray make competitive debuts on the wings while hooker Marnus van der Merwe and lock Max Douglas are new faces in the pack.
Wales tight-head props Henry Thomas and Harri O’Connor are ruled out by injury along with new loose-head Alec Hepburn and lock Sam Lousi, but Wales hooker Ryan Elias is on the bench after overcoming illness.
Scarlets finished 13th last season amid Welsh rugby’s well-documented financial issues with only five league wins. Only two of those successes came from the first half of the campaign but Peel is hopeful for a more positive start this time around.
“It is important we start this first block well,” said Peel.
“Going to Treviso is a tough start against a combative side who have some real quality in their group, but we have prepared well and I’m excited to see how we go, particularly some of the younger boys like Macs Page and Ellis Mee, who have shown up well in pre-season.”
Speaking about Macleod retaining the captaincy the Scarlets boss added:
“Josh has become a leader for us on and off the field in the last few seasons. He is from the region, has grown up supporting the Scarlets, and understands what it means to represent this great club.
“He is the type of player who leads by example, he is a 100-percenter in everything he does and we need that physicality and determination – people feed off that.
“It is great to have him back in training because even in training sessions he makes so much difference to the intensity that goes on around him.
“We are looking forward to seeing him pull on the jersey again, as I am sure all the fans are.”
Scarlets XV to face Benetton:
Tom Rogers, Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Ioan Lloyd, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (captain)
Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Max Douglas, Taine Plumtree, Jarrod Taylor, Vaea Fifita.
Replacements:
Ryan Elias. Sam O’Connor, Gabe Hawley, Jac Price, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Efan Jones, Johnny Williams, Jac Davies.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
