Scarlets will give Wales' World Cup trio Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones and Jake Ball their first games of the season at home to Bayonne on Saturday.

Scrum-half Davies was unwell and prop Jones was injured for last week's 19-11 Challenge Cup win over the French side.

Lock Ball is selected for the first time since being on Wales duty at the World Cup in Japan.

Prop Samson Lee has missed out through injury, while back-row Aaron Shingler is not fit.

Centre Hadleigh Parkes and hooker Ken Owens are still being rested after their heavy World Cup workload. Johnny McNicholl and Josh Macleod have also been rested.

Prop Javan Sebastian will make his first European start.

Despite Scarlets' important win in Bayonne, the Welsh region still face stiff competition from Toulon and London Irish to qualify.

Scarlets are currently second in Pool 2 with nine points, five behind Toulon, who will travel to Parc y Scarlets in round five in January.

"We've had the Welsh [international] boys back for two weeks, it's been great to have them back involved and they're all champing at the bit to get the jersey back on," said Scarlets assistant coach Ioan Cunningham.

"It's fantastic to get [these three] back in the frame, they're hungry and they've been excellent in the environment coming off Welsh duty."

'High tempo'

Cunningham is hoping for a better playing surface at Parc y Scarlets than the heavy conditions in the Stade Jean Dauger, despite the heavy rain in the build-up.

"We've got a fantastic surface, the conditions might be a challenge, but the surface will be a firm one for us to play with high tempo and that's what we plan to do this weekend," Cunningham told BBC Sport Wales.

Jones is pleased to be back with his region after becoming first-choice loose-head for Wales during the World Cup and against the Barbarians, overtaking Nicky Smith and club-mate Rob Evans in the pecking order.

He was a relatively late developer at the top level after several seasons playing mostly semi-pro club rugby for Llandovery RFC.

"A few things have changed [with new coach Brad Mooar], different structured days and playing patterns, but it's something you get up to speed with quickly and it's exciting," said Jones.

"Rob [Evans] and I push each other on every time we play and every time we train, it's good to have competition because it brings the best out of everyone.

"Maybe I've taken the unconventional route, but I've enjoyed every club and every place I've played."

Scarlets: Halfpenny; Conbeer, Baldwin, S Hughes (capt), S Evans; O'Brien, G Davies; W Jones, Elias, Sebastian, Ball, Lousi, Rawlins, J Morgan, U Cassiem.

Replacements: M Jones, R Evans, Kruger, Drake, Kennedy, K Hardy, D Jones, Asquith.

Bayonne: Tisseron; Baget, Alofa, Hingano, Robinson; Ordas, Saubusse (capt); Iguiniz, Van Jaarsveld, C Johnston, Van Lill, Maka, Duputs, Heguy, Iashagashvili.

Replacements: Martin, Cormenier, Mousset, Bergounioux, Collet, Luc, Fajardo, Martocq.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistants: Finlay Brown (Scotland), Ian Kenny (Scotland)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland).