HADLEIGH Parkes hopes Wales profit from the Scarlets’ swagger in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland.

The centre is one of 10 players in Warren Gatland’s 23 from the Guinness PRO14 champions, while Worcester wing Josh Adams is the only member of the back line that isn’t on the books in Llanelli.

Parkes takes his club midfield partnership with Scott Williams onto the Test stage and aims to build on a stunning debut in the win against South Africa when the New Zealand-born centre scored a brace and was named man of the match.

The Scarlets have earned a home quarter-final in the European Champions Cup and are going great guns in the defence of their title, playing fast-paced and thrilling rugby.

Parkes hopes that can transfer into the Six Nations against a Scotland side that also love to play expansively.

“It is pretty cool, this is a reward for a team that has been going pretty well and getting opportunities,” said Parkes. “I hope we can keep going the way we have been.

“The gameplan is a bit different to the Scarlets’. The most important thing is play what you see and what is in front of you. If you back yourself, have a crack.

“You have to be dominant and physical at first, but if it is on and you see an opportunity for a 50-50 pass or an offload and you back yourself, have a crack.

“If it does not come off, maybe not do it next time. If we keep trying, maybe we will see some good tries.”

Parkes qualified for Wales on residency the day that he faced the Springboks after training with the squad for the entire autumn campaign. Now he is braced for the “high intensity” of a first European tussle.

“These are the biggest rivalries, Scotland, England, Ireland, France, Italy. They are big and the fans make it a pretty impressive tournament,” he said.

“I have been to a fair few games since I have been over here and you don’t get an atmosphere like this in the southern hemisphere.

“These are such big games: the rivalry between the six nations is huge and has been around a long time.

“More importantly, the fans really love it and get right behind it. You can tell that by the number of away fans who travel to grounds. It is a great atmosphere and I hope we can put a good step forward.”

l Newcastle Falcons’ Chris Harris makes his first start for Scotland after being named at outside centre.

Cornell Du Preez starts at number eight with Glasgow’s Ali Price named ahead of fit-again Greig Laidlaw at scrum-half.

Coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes from the side that thumped Australia in November.

Stuart Hogg starts at full-back while props Gordon Reid and Jon Welsh, lock Ben Toolis and Du Preez come into the starting pack.

Prop Welsh last featured for Scotland in 2015 while Newcastle teammate Harris made his debut as sub for the final 21 minutes of November’s 44-38 win over Samoa.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray, John Barclay (Scarlets, captain), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh).

Replacements: Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens).