Preview: Toulon v Scarlets

The Welsh travel to France reeling from an injury blow that sees British & Irish Lions hooker Matthew Rees ruled out of the match.

The Welsh travel to France reeling from an injury blow that sees B&I Lions hooker Matthew Rees ruled out of the match.

Rees suffered a neck injury in training and is replaced in the starting line-up by Ken Owens with Emyr Phillips named as a replacement for the Saturday evening showdown.

Otherwise, Head Coach Nigel Davies has opted to run with the same starting line-up that took the big-hitting Ospreys to the wire last weekend in the Magners League with only one additional name to add to the travelling squad – Gareth Maule who comes onto the bench to provide cover at centre.

Nigel Davies has told his team “not to be intimidated” by their giant French opponents believing his developing Scarlets side have it in them to put in a massive performance and show what they are capable of against Toulon's big-name squad.

He said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for this team to go to Toulon and put in a massive performance and show what we are about. You don't win in places like Toulon unless you are brave – they are an impressive side and are unbeaten this season. But we know we have gone away to places like Brive and London Irish this season – which are pretty hostile places to go, and played rugby and not been intimidated by their records or the environment.

“When I look at this team and the individuals we've got and what they can achieve, and there's no reason why we can't compete. The fact we are huge underdogs will just spur us on.”

There was none of Rees' bad injury luck for prop Iestyn Thomas, who wins a special ERC Cap this week for playing his 50th Heineken Cup match back when the Scarlets played Brive in January.

Thomas, 33, is looking forward to the clash against a team he says is one of the biggest in the game.

“They are one of the super clubs, like the Ospreys are in Wales – a real class outfit with a big squad to pick from and they're doing well in the French league.

“Playing in France can be tough, they have massive scrums and love the driving line-outs and mauling. It will be a physical challenge but we have a lot of class in our youngsters and senior guys like David Lyons that can match their players. The battle up front will be important and we have to try and match them.

“It will be a hard night but we have nothing to lose, we can go there and give it our best crack. We can't take a backward step you have to got to go and play your own game, we'll need to rip into them, we can't stand off them because they have so much capability.”

Jonny Wilkinson and Sonny Bill Williams are the 10-12 axis for Toulon, in what is not entirely a full-strength side as the team braces for a tough Top 14 run-in.

Captain Joe van Niekerk is on the bench, as is former French international scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.

Toulon: 15 Luke Rooney, 14 Clement Marienval, 13 Tom May, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Jeremy Sinzelle, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Fotunuupule Auelua, 7 Thomas Sourice, 6 Olivier Missoup, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Tonga Leaaetoa, 2 Phillip Fitzgerald, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Jawad Djoudi, 17 Benjamin Basteres, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Ross Skeate, 20 Joe van Niekerk, 21 Mafi Kefu, 22 Pierre Mignoni, 23 Cedric Beal.

Scarlets: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 David Lyons (c), 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Rob McCusker, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhys Thomas 19 Damian Welch, 20 Josh Turnbull, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Daniel Evans, 23 Gareth Maule.

Date: Saturday, April 10
Venue: Stade Felix Mayol
Kick-off: 20.45 (18.45 GMT)