Fly-half Sam Costelow has given Scarlets a fitness boost before Sunday’s Champions Cup trip to Northampton – freeing them up to put Joe Hawkins back to his “primary role” at centre.

Costelow has not featured since an appearance off the bench at Bordeaux-Begles on 13 December after rolling an ankle in training before the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby at Cardiff.

Hawkins, who started at centre for Wales in the autumn Tests against New Zealand and South Africa, has pulled the strings from 10 in the last five fixtures.

However, new boss Nigel Davies intends to use the 23-year-old as a ball-playing centre.

“Sam is a natural 10 and it’s different with Joe,” said the interim director of rugby, who has come in above head coach Dwayne Peel.