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Liam Williams will start for the Scarlets against Connacht tomorrow (3pm) after being released from Wales duty in order to prove his Six Nations fitness.

Williams has been named in the Scarlets team for the crucial Pro12 clash, with Gareth Owen also returning in the centre.

It will be the first time Williams has played rugby since being injured against Australia at the Rugby World Cup in October.

He now hopes to show Warren Gatland he is fit and ready to be drafted into the Wales team that takes on Ireland in Dublin on February 7.

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Rhodri Williams starts for the Welsh region at scrum-half with Gareth Davies and Aled Davies both on international duty. Tom Williams and Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe line up on the wings.

In the pack, 21-year-old hooker Ryan Elias gets his first start of the season, having come off the replacements bench against Leinster earlier this season in his only competitive appearance so far.

He's joined in the front row by experienced loosehead prop Phil John and international tighthead Rhodri Jones, also making his first start of the season after nine appearances from the bench.

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Tighthead prop Peter Edwards is named on the replacements bench having recovered from an elbow injury suffered in the second round of the Champions Cup against Racing 92 at Parc y Scarlets.

James Davies (foot), Scott Williams (knee), Michael Tagicakibau (hamstring), Josh Macleod (foot), Harry Robinson (hamstring), Emyr Phillips (knee), Jack Condy (shoulder), George Earle (calf), Ben Leung (knee), Maselino Paulino (suspended) are all injured.

Jake Ball, Gareth Davies, Aled Davies, Rob Evans, Samson Lee, Ken Owens and Scottish flanker John Barclay are all away on international duty while Jordan Williams is away with the Wales 7s.

Connacht include Irish centre Robbie Henshaw in their line-up.

Scarlets: L Williams; T Williams, G Owen, H Parkes (capt), DTH van der Merwe; A Thomas, R Williams; P John, R Elias, R Jones, T Price, L Rawlins, A Shingler, W Boyde, M Allen. Reps: K Myhill, D Evans, P Edwards, J Jones, T Phillips, C Lloyd, S Shingler, M Collins.

Connacht: T O’Halloran; D Poolman, R Henshaw, B Aki, M Healy, J Carty, C Blade; D Buckley, T McCartney, F Bealham, G Naoupu, A Muldowney, J Muldoon (capt), J Heenan, E Masterson. Reps: D Heffernan, R Loughney, R Ah You, U Dillane, J Connolly, I Porter, C Ronaldson, R Parata.