Carter and Costelow back for Welsh derby

Wales duo Ben Carter and Sam Costelow will return for the United Rugby Championship (URC) game between Dragons and Scarlets at Rodney Parade on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Dragons co-captain Carter is back to lead the side as one of five changes from the team that drew 19-19 with Benetton in the opening match of the season.

Hooker Elliot Dee, tight-head Rob Hunt, blind-side flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes and fit-again number eight Harri Keddie are included, while Wales prop Dillon Lewis returns as a replacement.

Scarlets fly-half Costelow is among five personnel changes from the team that lost 21-15 defeat to Cardiff.

"It's great to have Sam back," said Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies.

"Over the last couple of years he's matured as a player and he's probably in and around the start of his peak in terms of his playing performance."

There are four new faces and two positional alterations in the Scarlets pack with Wales prop-duo Kemsley Mathias and Harri O'Connor, new lock signing Alex Groves and flanker Dan Davis starting.

Sam Lousi switches to the second row, while captain Josh Macleod moves to blind-side flanker and the bench includes the return of Wales international pair Gareth Davies and Johnny Williams.

Dragons will be hoping to follow up last season's success in this fixture when they celebrated a 28-5 win against Scarlets on New Year's Day.

"It was one of our best performances of last season," said Tiatia.

"It's a very different team this year, they've got a number of players injured and some players coming back.

"We're under no illusion of the quality coming to Rodney Parade and it's going to be a good scrap."

It is the first of two home derbies for the Dragons in six days with Ospreys the opponents the following Friday.

"These are special games to be involved in," said Tiatia.

"The boys and and coaches know them pretty well, so it's a pretty personal game.

"We're looking forward to hosting them at Rodney Parade and getting our community and fans involved in the game."

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams will lead out the Dragons on his 150th game for the region.

"It will be a special occasion and I couldn't ask for much better on a Saturday at home in front of our fans," said Williams.

"I'll be leading the team out with my two little girls, so it's going to be a big occasion for the family."

Williams will achieve the milestone against his former Scarlets side.

"I had quality memories down there, five seasons with some great memories," added Williams.

"It is a club that's part of my career, so to do the 150 against them at home is something special."

Dragons: Anderson; Dyer, Inisi, Owen, Tuitavuki; de Beer, Williams; Martinez, Dee, Hunt, S Davies, Carter (capt), Lewis-Hughes, Young, Keddie.

Replacements: Coghlan, R Jones, Lewis, Woodman, Beddall, Hope, J Lloyd, Paea.

Scarlets: Murray; Mee, Roberts, James, Page; Costelow, Blacker; Mathias, Elias, H O'Connor, Groves, Lousi, Macleod (capt), D Davis, O Williams.

Replacements: McKee, S O'Connor, Hawley, W Evans, T Davies, G Davies, Hawkins, J Williams.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Marcus Caudle (WRU)

TMO: Keith David (WRU).