The Scarlets have handed teenage Wales U20s centre Macs Page a first European start at against Gloucester at Kinsholm.

Dwayne Peel has managed Page carefully but the former Swansea City academy player has shown flashes of brilliance when on the field this season. He will face a big test in front of the Shed on Friday night against a Gloucester side who ripped Sale Sharks to shreds in the Premiership last weekend.

The Challenge Cup fixture could be an important one in the context of Six Nations selection, with members of the Wales coaching team set to be in attendance ahead of the squad announcement next Monday. They will be interested to see how Gloucester's Welsh contingent of Tomos Williams, Max Llewellyn, Josh Hathaway and Freddie Thomas fare.

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But it is also an opportunity for many within the Scarlets squad to put their hands up for selection. Scarlets wing Ellis Mee is someone who has impressed and could force his way into the squad with a strong performance at Kingsholm, while his back-three colleagues Ioan Lloyd and Blair Murray are also in contention.

Page links up with Eddie James in a youthful midfield, while Joe Roberts provides cover from the bench instead of the the experienced Johnny Williams who is sidelined with a foot injury. But arguably the most intriguing selection is former Wales U20s scrum-half Archie Hughes who makes his first start of the season.

The 21-year-old is highly rated and is seen as a player with a very high ceiling. Hughes will be partnered at half-back by Wales playmaker Sam Costelow. The average age of the Scarlets back division is just less than 22, with Costelow the oldest when he turns 24 on Friday.

Up front, Kemsley Mathias is recalled to the loose-head berth and packs down alongside Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas. Former Gloucester lock Alex Craig partners Max Douglas in the second row, while in the back row, Tonga international Vaea Fifita returns to the No. 8 shirt with Taine Plumtree switching to blindside flanker. Josh Macleod skippers the side.

The bench includes tighthead prop Gabe Hawley, who is set for his tournament debut.

“Scarlets have a rich history in European competition so whenever it comes around it is always an exciting time for us and our supporters," said Peel.

“Kingsholm is an awesome place to play rugby, the atmosphere is always good and we’ll have fantastic travelling support as well. This will be a brilliant experience, particularly for the younger players in the squad and an exciting opportunity for us as a group.

"Yes, we have been competitive this year, but going away to somewhere like Kingsholm where Gloucester have been going well of late, will be a good measure for us.” The Scarlets are currently third in pool three having narrowly lost to Bayonne in round one before comfortably dispatching of Georgian outfit Black Lion.

A victory at Kingsholm would put them in pole position to make the knockout stages with a home clash with Vannes to come next Saturday. Peel added: “We have a real competitive pool in the Challenge Cup, so picking up points is important, particularly away from home, as it always has been in Europe.”

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.