Yahoo Sports Gloucester's Anscombe misses Scarlets Euro clash
European Challenge Cup: Gloucester v Scarlets
Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester Date: Friday, 10 January Kick off: 20:00 (GMT)
Coverage: Listen and live text on the BBC Sport website and app, with commentary also on BBC Radio Gloucesterhire, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds.
Gloucester outside-half Gareth Anscombe will miss Friday's European Challenge Cup game against Scarlets and a showdown with Wales rival Sam Costelow at Kingsholm.
Anscombe left the field with a knee issue against Sale last week and is not included in a Cherry and Whites side showing four personnel changes.
It could be a concern for Warren Gatland just four days before he names his Wales squad for the Six Nations which starts against France in three weeks.
Costelow, who took over the Wales number 10 jersey from opposite number Anscombe in the final autumn Test against South Africa, starts in a Scarlets side which shows six changes from the United Rugby Championship (URC) win against Dragons.
Gloucester's Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams begins the game on the bench, replaced by Caolan Englefield. In the absence of Anscombe, Santi Carreras switches to fly-half from full-back, with George Barton returning at 15.
Chistian Wade's return on the flank sees Wales' Max Llewellyn switch from wing to inside centre, while the only change in the pack sees tight-head prop Ciaran Knight join the front row.
Costelow celebrates his 24th birthday on Friday yet is still the oldest of a Scarlets back division with an average age of less than 22.
Scrum-half Archie Hughes, 21, takes over from Gareth Davies while centre Eddie James starts alongside 20-year-old Macs Page, who gets his first European start.
Ioan Lloyd, linked in recent days with a move away from Scarlets next season, returns at full back.
Prop Kemsley Matthias and number eight Vaea Fifita return while Taine Plumtree switches to flanker and Max Douglas moves to lock.
Gatland will have a keen eye on Gloucester's Welsh contingent, which also includes lock Freddie Thomas who starts in the home side's second row.
Llewellyn scored two tries in last week's victory over Sale and Williams one in a performance that earned praise from Gloucester head coach George Skivington.
"Our Welsh lads are flying the flag pretty well and making headlines. They're doing some great stuff and we're very proud of them," Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"There's a Welsh team coming to town and people know they'll be fighting with individuals for competition for Six Nations spots and bragging rights.
"There'll be a heavy Welsh contingent on the field and likely off the field on Friday night."
Skivington added: "Before the professional era the Wales-Gloucester derby games were frequent and pretty ferocious. There's a big history."
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "We've been competitive this year but going to Kingsholm where Gloucester have been going well of late, will be a good measure for us.
"It's is an awesome place to play. You get called every name under the sun. You make an error, they let you know about it. They will undoubtedly be after us in The Shed.
"But that will be a brilliant experience, particularly for the younger players in the squad and an exciting opportunity for us as a group."
Scarlets are third in Pool 3 - one of a trio of sides with six points from the first two rounds. The other three teams in the finely balanced group all have four points, including Gloucester who are fifth.
The Cherry and Whites - currently also fifth in the Gallagher English Premiership - won their opening match at home to Pool leaders Edinburgh 15-10 before losing 43-19 at French club RC Vannes.
Scarlets suffered a much closer defeat in France - beaten 17-16 at Aviron Bayonnais in their opening fixture. The Welsh region then overcame Georgians Black Lion 36-18 in Llanelli.
Since the opening two rounds of European competitons Scarlets lost by a point to Ospreys and beat Dragons in two festive derbies which has moved them to sixth in the United Rugby Championship.
Gloucester have enjoyed home wins over Harlequins and Sale either side of defeat at Exeter.
Gloucester: George Barton; Christian Wade, Chris Harris, Max Llewellyn, Josh Hathaway; Santi Carreras, Caolan Englefield; Mayco Vivas, Jack Singleton, Ciaran Knight, Freddie Thomas, Arthur Clark, Jack Clement, Lewis Ludlow (capt), Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements: Seb Blake, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Kirill Gotovtsev, Cam Jordan, Freddie Clarke, Albert Tuisue, Tomos Williams, Charlie Atkinson.
Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd; Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Eddie James, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Max Douglas, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (capt), Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Alec Hepburn, Gabe Hawley, Sam Lousi, Jarrod Taylor, Gareth Davies, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas.
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (FFR)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier & Jean Lespes (FFR)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (FFR)
