Players on fringe have chance to push their claims

Leeds's first team have endured a torrid start to the Aviva Premiership campaign with seven straight defeats, and if a team made up of largely fringe players and boasting 13 Academy products manages to improve the mood in the camp at Llanelli today and at home to Sale next week in the LV Anglo-Welsh Cup then changes could be in the offing for Leeds's trip to Exeter on November 20.

"There's a number of guys who can force their way into our Premiership team over the next two weeks," said head coach Back.

"We have got a few guys who have played a lot of rugby so far this season so they will get a well-earned rest this week but we are very excited about the young players who are coming through.

"They have been working hard in the A team and out on loan over the past two years and deserve their opportunity to pull on a first-team jersey."

Leeds are without England internationals Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie with Scarlets similarly under-strength due to their Welsh contingent.

The Yorkshire club's youthful look is epitomised in the second row where 17-year-old Dominic Barrow debuts alongside James Craig, 21, who has been on loan at Doncaster.

Barrow becomes the first Academy player to debut for Leeds who was born after the club's formation in 1992.

Kearnan Myall captains the side for the first time in a pack where only Mike MacDonald and Alfie To'oala are not Academy graduates.

England Under-18s captain Chris Walker, A-team captain Oliver Stedman and scrum-half Craig Hampson are all poised to debut from the bench.

"I think if we were facing their first-choice team it would be a very tricky proposition. However, like us, they have been hit by international call-ups and will have to change things around this week," added Back.

Leeds have taken only two losing bonus points in the Premiership and their sole win this season came in the Amlin Challenge Cup against Bucaresti. But Back remains confident the tide will be turned.

"We had enough possession against Wasps and Sale the previous week to get back-to-back wins which would have put us in a more positive position going into the start of the LV Cup," he said.

"We want to make sure we go into those Premiership games with a positive momentum."