Thursday 6 November 2014 18:18, UK
The second round of LV= Cup clashes get under way on Friday, with Scarlets taking on Northampton.
In other action, Ospreys host Saracens, Harlequins entertain Newport Gwent Dragons and Newcastle Falcons take on Cardiff Blues.
The Guinness PRO12 sides Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Blues are playing for the first time in this year’s competition, while Aviva Premiership teams Northampton and Saracens are looking to build on wins last time and Harlequins and Newcastle are aiming to bounce back from first round defeats.
Scrum half Kieran Hardy and second row Shaun Jones will make their Scarlets debuts on Friday against last year's runners-up Northampton Saints.
The talented young duo have been rewarded for strong performances in the British and Irish Cup in recent weeks, and are joined by last week's debutant Steffan Evans and former Wales Under 20s captain Steffan Hughes as next generation players in the side.
Second row George Earle will captain the hosts, while flanker Rob McCusker returns from injury and Jordan Williams makes a return to the wing.
Visiting Northampton have made four changes from the side which beat Newcastle in the first round.
James Wilson returns at full back, meaning Tom Collins moves to the wing, while Jamie Elliott has the week off.
Up front, Ben Nutley starts in the back row, with Teimana Harrison dropping to the bench, while in the front row Ross McMillan and Tom Mercey replace Mike Haywood and Gareth Denman respectively.
Hooker Matti Williams is in line for his first senior action from the bench since his injury against London Irish last April, while Alex Waller, Salesi Ma’afu, Calum Clark, Lee Dickson and Ben Foden all return to the match day squad.
The high-flying Ospreys go into this game on the back of a perfect start to the PRO12 season, with seven wins out of seven.
Head coach Steve Tandy has decided to blood several of the side's young talents in the game, with Aled Jenkins, Gareth Thomas, Rory Thornton and Ifereimi Boladau set to make their Ospreys debuts, while Jordan Collier makes his first start.
Tommy Spinks and Ashley Evans will make their Ospreys debuts if they come off the bench.
For Saracens, five players have been given their full debuts in a youthful starting XV for the trip.
Recent signing Brett Sharman starts at hooker in the pack, alongside Biyi Alo and Hertford RFC player Jack Culverhouse in the front row. Hayden Smith returns to partner skipper Maro Itoje at lock.
Matt Hankin and Hayden Thompson-Stringer start on the flanks in the back row, with Nick De Jager at No.8.
USA international Thretton Palamo starts at inside centre alongside Nick Tompkins, while George Perkins, Jack Wilson and Will Edwards make up the Saracens back three.
Harlequins have made several changes to the side which lost to Saracens first time around.
There are three changes to the forwards, with Charlie Matthews, Kyle Sinckler and Jack Clifford, who returns from injury, coming into the side.
Tim Swiel makes his starting debut for the club in the backs, while Matt Hopper is named at outside centre.
Tom Casson is named among the replacements.
For the Dragons, tighthead Brok Harris will make his debut and Ross Wardle, Cory Hill, Andrew Coombs and Joe Davies return from injury in the match day squad.
In the back three, Geraint Rhys Jones starts at full-back alongside teenager Ashton Hewitt and Aled Brew.
Matthew Pewtner and Wardle make up the centre pairing, while Dorian Jones starts at fly-half and Jonathan Evans at scrum-half.
Props Owen Evans and debutant Brok Harris make up the front row alongside hooker Elliot Dee. Hill returns from injury to captain the side in the second row, while Coombs also returns at blind side flanker.
Davies returns from injury on the bench.
Newcastle Falcons coach Dean Richards has made 10 changes to his starting line-up for the visit of the Blues.
Alex Tait, Noah Cato, Gonzalo Tiesi and Adam Powell all return after being rested in round one.
In the half backs, Ruki Tipuna and Juan Pablo Socino pair up for the first time in a month, coming in for Mike Blair and Rory Clegg respectively.
In the forwards, on loan prop Alex Rogers makes his first start at loose head prop. Rob Vickers moves into the hooker position, replacing Rob Hawkins who pulled out of the Northampton match prior to kick off.
Richard Mayhew and Andy Saull start in the back row, with Saull named as captain with Will Welch sidelined through injury.
For Cardiff Blues, Garyn Smith, Harry Davies and Jevon Groves all make their debuts for the trip to Kingston Park.
Lucas Amorosino is the sole survivor from the side that faced Munster last weekend, with the Argentine paired in midfield alongside centre Ellis Jenkins, who has been named as captain.
Scott Andrews, Rhys Williams and Tom Davies are up front, with Loud Reed and Chris Dicomidis at second row. Debutant Groves and Rory Watts-Jones are in the back row.
Wing Davies, Tom Williams and Dan Fish complete the back three, while the half back pairing is Simon Humberstone and Tavis Knoyle.
Ethan Lewis, Callum Lewis, Dillon Lewis, Ben Roach, Will Thomas and Jack Phillips are all in line for first team debuts from the bench.
