"We have made some significant changes to a number of areas of our game after a detailed study of performance last season and we have been working hard with the players throughout the summer period on these changes.
"It's been a very focused and intense pre-season with our squad. With the exception of our internationals who toured with Wales during the summer, it is the players who have been with us throughout the pre-season who have had the most exposure to our new training regime and rugby structure at this point.
"Those who have been on international duty have been on parallel training programs with us over the last three weeks which have been aligned to the rest of the squad. This has followed important rest and recovery time off after their tours and then a specific training period on strength and conditioning.
"Selection for our opening game is based on all these factors and takes into account some minor injuries from the last week. It will include most of the team that played in the Worcester game and first half against Exeter. I think it was evident that some of our current internationals were naturally a bit rusty with our game last weekend, however I fully expect them to fall into our game very quickly now.
"The Scarlets team for Treviso is one that I firmly believe is the best selection that we can make at this time and will hopefully bear out our faith as a coaching team in the great promise that a number of our players have shown already this summer and importantly, the collective progress that this group of players has made over during pre-season.
"We will also have a strong bench to draw from and that will be able to make a significant impact on this game at key times.
"The players know that we have to perform very well in order to get a result in Treviso as this will for obvious reasons be a massive game for them, but it is a massive game for us too.
"The opening game of the season is never an easy one for any team but I have been pleased with the progress that we have made over the summer, with both the Worcester game and the first half performance against Exeter showing encouraging signs of what we have been working hard on in our game. Equally, we must recognise that we have a long way to go and the real test begins when the competitive opens this Saturday.
"We are all determined to build on our performances from last year. The Magners League is what we do week in week out and we have to make sure we are strong in that and we will focus a lot of our efforts on this on the league and particularly our home form - we must make Parc y Scarlets a tough place to come.
"One of the most encouraging things for me, is the depth of quality that we are now creating within the squad with real competition for places in most positions starting to show. This is fundamental to our success going forward.
"We have been hampered in the recent past from not having sufficient depth, but through our policy of development and giving opportunities to rising talent within our squad, I genuinely believe that our squad is now ready to front up and there is no doubt the motivation, energy and spirit within our group, both coaches and players - is as strong as ever."
