Scarlets hold the edge for home clash with Ulster

Edinburgh v Newcastle
BT Sport 2, 7.45pm Friday
Scarlets v Ulster
BT Sport 3, 7.45pm Friday

Scarlets and Ulster go into a European pool double-header having already met twice in the Pro14 this season.

On the opening day Scarlets went to Belfast with 14 first-team players on the injury list but scored the only try of the game as they went down 15-13 to a 79th-minute penalty.

And back on home soil last month the Welsh outfit ran out comfortable 29-12 winners, scoring four tries to two.

Both sides were missing their internationals that day but Scarlets have won five out of five Pro14 matches in front of their own fans and were beaten by a single point by last season's finalists Racing 92 in their opening European clash.

Scarlets are missing internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Jake Ball but home advantage is a huge plus and they can carve out a narrow victory.

Newcastle have two wins from two in Europe including a famous success over Toulon but they are without a host of big names for their trip to Edinburgh, who have nine Scotland internationals plus Fiji number eight Bill Mata back in their side.

An eight-point start for the Falcons was pushed up to 13 once the teams were named, and it's hard to judge how the visitors will shape up.

Recommendations
Scarlets to win by one to 12 points
1pt 15-8 Betfair

Recent European meetings - 2014-15: Ulster 24 Scarlets 9, Scarlets 22 Ulster 13. This season - Pro14: Ulster 15 Scarlets 13, Scarlets 29 Ulster 12.

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