Scarlets travel to Italy hoping to bounce back from a 55-39 home loss to Ulster Rugby last time out.

Halfpenny, who lifted the Challenge Cup with Cardiff Blues in 2010, returns to the starting XV at full-back after 15 months on the sideline due to a serious knee injury.

Scarlets will also have Ken Owens back as a replacement option, with the hooker having been out for 12 months.

In all, Scarlets make seven changes, one positional, to the starting XV. Shaun Evans, Tom Price, Steff Evans, Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy all come in alongside Halfpenny, while New Zealander Vaea Fifita moves from second row to back row.

Meanwhile, Benetton will be hoping for a second successive home win of the season after beating Glasgow Warriors 33-11 a fortnight ago.

Plenty of other EPCR Challenge Cup sides are also in action over the weekend in the URC.

Glasgow journey to face Ospreys having made five changes to their starting XV, including Ali Price coming in at scrum-half for his first start of the season.

Pool A side Zebre Parma face Munster Rugby with six changes made, Davide Ruggeri earning his first start of the campaign, while Dragons conclude the matches for the URC’s EPCR Challenge Cup cohort with their home fixture against Cell C Sharks on Saturday.

The Welsh region make only three changes to their team, with fly-half Will Reed making his first appearance of the season.

The Gallagher Premiership has just one match featuring an EPCR Challenge Cup side this weekend, with 2008 winners Bath Rugby travelling to face London Irish on Saturday.

As part of five changes, Quinn Roux and GJ van Velze will make their first starts for the club at the Gtech Community Stadium.

There’s also a host of EPCR Challenge Cup clubs to keep an eye on in the TOP 14. Stade Français Paris take on Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Section Paloise face RC Toulon, CA Brive meet Aviron Bayonnais and USAP host Castres Olympique at home.

A returning Leigh Halfpenny will give EPCR Challenge Cup side Scarlets a boost in their match at fellow Pool B side Benetton Rugby on Saturday, as the Welsh region search for their first win of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season.