Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland is set for a return from injury after being named on the Scarlets' bench © Getty Images

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Matches: Scarlets 31 - 23 Castres

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Castres | France | Scarlets | Wales

The Scarlets face a tough Heineken Cup opener in the shape of in-form Castres at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

Stripped of the services of several front line players, the Scarlets have struggled to keep pace with the PRO12 leaders and are currently eight in the table with just three wins from their eight games. In contrast Castres, who were not hit so hard by the World Cup exodus, find themselves in third place in France's Top 14 thanks to seven victories. But the French side have not won on the road in the Heineken Cup since a victory over Bridgend in 2002.

The Scarlets attracted much praise last term for their free-flowing brand of rugby but still only managed three victories in the pool stages. As a result, much is expected of the Scarlets this season with rising stars Rhys Priestland and George North set to play central roles as the West Wales region looks to secure a place in the knock-out stages for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

With heavy hitters Munster and Northampton making up the rest of the pool, pressure will be on both sides to make a winning start to their challenge.

Scarlets - Player to Watch: Rising star George North is set to make his Heineken Cup debut on the wing - can he produce the kind of form that has bagged him nine tries in 15 appearances for Wales.

Scarlets - Team News: Liam Williams switches from wing to fullback to make room for George North while Scott Williams is also shifted into the No.13 shirt to allow Jon Davies to step into the inside centre berth. In the only other change to the side that started against the Ospreys last weekend, Johnathan Edwards packs down at openside. Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland is set make his comeback from a shoulder injury having been named on the bench.

Castres - Player to Watch: Castres added Scotland's Max Evans to their squad in the off-season and the winger will be looking to make good on the deal.

Castres - Team News: Castres have rung the changes in the wake of their Top 14 defeat to Bordeaux last time out with Matthieu Nicolas getting the nod on the right wing and Paul Bonnefond and Romain Cabannes forming a new look centre partnership. Rémi Tales and Thierry Lacrampe are named at fly-half and scrum-half respectively while loose-head Anton Peikrishvili and hooker Marc-Antoine Rallier will pack down in the front row. Matthias Rolland is drafted in at lock and Steve Malonga claims the openside berth.

Key Battle: Can the comparatively slight Castres winger Marc Andreu shackle giant Scarlets wing George North and vice versa?

Trivia: The Scarlets will become the fifth club to make 100 Heineken Cup appearances when they tackle Castres at Parc Y Scarlets.

Stats: Castres Romain Teulet is the shortest player registered for this season's Heineken Cup at 5ft 4in (1.63m).

Quote Unquote:

"We have a hard pool, but on the day anything can happen and we have as good a chance as anyone. I think we can surprise a few people this year."
- Scarlets centre Scott Williams is in confident mood

"The Scarlets are a team who really like to play attacking rugby and the form so many of their backs showed at the World Cup - players like George North, Jon Davies, Scott Williams and Rhys Priestland - shows they are sure to be really dangerous with the ball in hand."
- Castres captain Chris Masoe is aware of the task facing his side