Six Nations Wales v Scotland: Gareth Llewellyn, whose championship career started 14 years ago, has been chosen in Wales's second row for Saturday's opener against Scotland in Cardiff a week after being told by his region, Neath-Swansea Ospreys, that he was surplus to requirements.

Llewellyn, 35 at the end of the month, was put on the transfer list by the Ospreys but he will win his 84th cap, three behind Neil Jenkins's national record.

He gets his chance because Robert Sidoli was ruled out by a back injury, while the prop Duncan Jones returns after breaking his leg in the World Cup. The hooker Robin McBryde also failed a fitness test yesterday and Mefin Davies of the Celtic Warriors gets his chance.

"I have something to focus on now after the disappointment of last week," said Llewellyn. "I do not want to go into what happened with the Ospreys, but it has been a relief to be involved with Wales.

"It's just important that I have a responsibility to the boys in the Welsh squad to be switched on and focus on the job in hand and what is going on here.

"I still want to play rugby and I still feel I've got two years left in me."

Llewellyn is intent on giving Wales his best - and then dealing with his transfer options when he has to.

"I just want to get this competition out of the way and see what happens then," he said. "I will look at whatever offers come in. I suppose if I can still play at this level it says something about me."

The Wales coach Steve Hansen has made six changes from the side which pushed England all the way in the World Cup quarter-final and he has again showed his attacking intent by keeping Gareth Thomas at full back and keeping faith with Iestyn Harris, who has not played for a month because of injury.

Only two of the successful Llanelli side have been picked, Stephen Jones at outhalf and Dafydd Jones at number eight.

WALES: G Thomas (Celtic Warriors); R Williams (Cardiff Blues), S Parker (Warriors), I Harris (Blues), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), G Cooper (Warriors); D Jones (Ospreys), M Davies (Warriors), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Warriors), G Llewellyn (Ospreys), C Charvis (Tarbes, capt), M Williams (Blues), D Jones (Scarlets).