In the back row Jones brings in full-back Jack Walsh, wings Dan Kasende and Keelan Giles, whilst there is a welcome return for centre Keiran Williams and scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams.
Wales hooker Dewi Lake returns to the Ospreys pack along with prop Tom Botha and lock Rhys Davies. Flanker Justin Tipuric’s re-introduction to the back row sees Wales captain Jac Morgan switch from open to blind-side.
Lake has not started for club or country since Ospreys’ Challenge Cup trip to Montpellier in mid-December.
After undergoing bicep surgery, Lake made two replacement appearances for Wales in the Six Nations and came off the bench for Ospreys at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.
The Scarlets triumphed over the Ospreys 38-22 in the United Rugby Championship last weekend in Llanelli, but despite last weekend’s defeat, Jones remains positive for the re-match to go his side’s way.
“We’re looking forward to this one,” said in his pre-match conference.
“We rested a few last week and wanted to make sure we came into this one with a fairly fit bill of health.
“It probably took a bit of flack [last week] for the selection, but it was looking pretty good after about half an hour.
“Last weeks result though wasn’t a reflection of selection, it was a reflection of how accurate we were in key moments of the game and how well Scarlets did to take advantage – hats off to them they were accurate in what they did.
“Ospreys v Scarlets is always a massive fixture and for it to be the first time the teams have faced each other in the knockout rounds of an EPCR competition, it adds an extra edge.
“We’re expecting a big crowd on the weekend, which is brilliant. We know our supporters will get behind the boys and be our 16th man, which is what Welsh derbies are all about.”
The Ospreys come into the tie having home advantage having clinched second place in Pool 2. A late comeback victory in France against Pau, along with wins against Newcastle and Lions sealing progress through to the knockout phase.
Scarlets, meanwhile, finished third in Pool 3, beating Black Lion and Vannes at home, but defeats against Bayonne and Gloucester meant that qualification was secured late as one of the best Pool third-placed teams.
“We have a chance now to put our best foot forward and improve on our performance after being disappointed last week because it was below our level,” continued Jones.
“We want to go as far as we can [in the competition] and that is only as far as your next game.
“We know this is a huge hurdle ahead of us after last week. We are certainly not looking to any finals yet, but we want to go as far as we can in both competitions.”
Ospreys XV to play Scarlets:
Jack Walsh, Dan Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards,
Reuben Morgan-Williams
Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (captain),
Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.
Replacements:
Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, James Fender, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies,
Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins.
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
