Kiwi full-back Johnny McNicholl makes his much-anticipated return from injury as the Scarlets resume their Guinness PRO14 challenge against Benetton in northern Italy on Sunday (1.05pm).

McNicholl hasn't played since damaging his shoulder in the dying moments of the Boxing Day win over the Ospreys .

In his absence the Scarlets have maintained their position at the top of Conference B and produced two stirring performances against Bath and Toulon to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.

But the availability of one of the leading counter-attackers in the competition is a major boost for Wayne Pivac with so many members of his back division on Six Nations duty.

Pivac has seen influential flanker James Davies and hooker Ryan Elias released from the Wales camp, with his starting line-up at the Stadio Monigo showing six survivors from the side that saw off Toulon in a European thriller in Llanelli last month.

Centre Steffan Hughes takes over the captaincy and partners Paul Asquith in midfield, while up front Tadhg Beirne switches to the back-row alongside Davies and Will Boyde. Lewis Rawlins comes in at lock where South African David Bulbring will make his 50th appearance for the region.

James Davies has been released from the Wales camp

Wales Under-20s centre Corey Baldwin, who scored two tries in the win over Scotland in Colwyn Bay last weekend, is named among the replacements.

With the squad decimated by call-ups to the national, under-20s and sevens squads, the management have been taking a hands-on approach to training this week, stepping in to take the role of opposition players.

Pivac himself has been packing down at No. 8, forwards coach Ioan Cunningham alongside him in the back row, while defence coach Byron Hayward (10), backs coach Stephen Jones (12) and team manager Mark Taylor (13) have been providing plenty of international experience behind the scrum.

Wales Under-20 centre Corey Baldwin runs in to score a try versus Scotland

"It’s been a little bit more challenging than it has been in previous years, with selections not only in the national team, but players away with 20s and we also have had a couple away for the sevens," said Pivac.

"Even the coaches jumped in to make up the numbers in the opposition side during training. We do what we have to do to get the job done.

"We rested the team during the Anglo-Welsh Cup so we can fight on two fronts (the PRO14 and Europe). We have got a pretty good feel about the group.

"We are really, really thankful to have so many players in the national side, we are really proud of them, and the guys who remain with us have an opportunity to carry on where we left off in the PRO14. That is certainly the aim."

This will be the fourth meeting between the sides this season with the Scarlets having won all three.

The West Walians hold a two-point lead over Leinster at the top of Conference B.

Benetton: L. Sperandio; A. Bronzini, T. Iannone, L. Morisi, M. Ioane; M. Banks, T. Tebaldi; A. de Marchi, T. Baravelle, M. Zanusso, M. Lazzaroni, I. Hebst, A. Sgarbi (capt), W. Douglas, M. Barbini.

Reps: H. Faiva, C. Traore, M. Riccioni, M. Fuser, F. Minto, G. Bronzini, M. Zanon, S. Rossi.

Scarlets: J. McNicholl; T. Prydie, P. Asquith, S. Hughes (capt), I. Nicholas; D. Jones, J. Evans; D. Evans, R. Elias, W. Kruger, L. Rawlins, D. Bulbring, T. Beirne, W. Boyde, James Davies.

Reps: T. Davies, R. Fawcett, S. Gardiner, S. Cummins, J. Macleod, D. Smith, C. Baldwin, T. Williams.