Scarlets seal bonus-point win in Dragons derby

United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v Dragons

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Wednesday, 1 January Kick off: 17:15 GMT

Coverage: Watch on S4C via BBC iPlayer. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

Scarlets wing Blair Murray has recovered from a hamstring injury to face Dragons in the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby in Llanelli on New Year's Day.

Wales international Murray has not played in a month after initially suffering a head injury against Glasgow.

Tom Rogers switches to full-back with Ioan Lloyd dropping to the replacements' bench, while centre Joe Roberts replaces Eddie James.

Lock Alex Craig starts, with Max Douglas reverting to blind-side flanker and Taine Plumtree packing down at number eight. Vaea Fifita drops to the bench.

Wales hooker Elliot Dee makes a first start since recovering from an ankle injury as Dragons make three changes from the side narrowly defeated by Cardiff on 26 December.

Flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes starts in the back row less than a month after having a finger amputated.

Cai Evans is recalled at full-back, with Huw Anderson moving to the wing and Jared Rosser to outside centre, while prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths is in line to make his senior debut from the bench.

Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia is back to guide the side after missing the Cardiff defeat because of family commitments in New Zealand.

Dragons are bottom of the league, having lost all seven games since their opening day victory at home to Ospreys.

Scarlets are 12th with three wins and four defeats from their eight games. They have lost their last two league matches, including a 23-22 defeat at Ospreys four days before Christmas.

However, Dwayne Peel's side have won their last three home games in all competitions, their best such run since April 2023.

Dragons have not enjoyed victory away from home against a fellow Welsh side since their trip to Llanelli in April 2022, their only victory in 16 previous visits to Parc y Scarlets.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: "It wasn't a great Christmas present to lose to Ospreys and I was just disappointed because it was a game that we lost rather than anything else.

"We have reviewed the game and switched our attention to Dragons.

"Games at home are important for us with our fans here so we need to make sure we put a good performance against Dragons who will be ultra-competitive and physical."

Dragons backs coach Matt O'Brien: "We're looking forward to getting back out on the field and improving on our last performance.

"There was a lot of good in the game with Cardiff, but also some clear areas that we need to address if we're to get a positive result in Llanelli.

"Scarlets have had some good results this season, particularly at home where they have won the last three, stretching back to the start of October.

"We will need to be at our best, but it's a New Year's Day derby and challenge we are all looking forward to."

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Archer Holz, Vaea Fifita, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Ioan Lloyd, Eddie James

Dragons: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser, Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson; Angus O'Brien (capt), Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Dmitri Arhip, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Chris Coleman, Nick Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Che Hope, Will Reed, Harry Wilson.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans & Mike English (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU).