THE Scarlets say they are ready to play the waiting game before Gavin Quinnell makes his return to the regional ranks.

Quinnell junior has started the season plying his trade in the Welsh Premiership rather than the Magners League following his summer move from Italian side Viadana.

The 26-year-old forward, who signed on a two-year deal, has made two appearances for Llanelli RFC so far this season as the Scarlets, headed by conditioning coach Brad Harrington, work on his fitness.

The results are already there to see with Quinnell having shed an impressive two and a half stone since starting pre-season training at Parc y Scarlets.

But for the next few weeks at least, it is likely that the giant lock's development will continue at semi-pro rugby, which means a date with Cardiff at the Arms Park on Saturday afternoon, rather than at Parc y Scarlets for the arrival of Connacht.

Weight loss

"I am really delighted with Gav in terms of his progression, he has lost 16kg already," said head coach Nigel Davies. "But we are not going to rush him back.

"He put in a great first-half performance for Llanelli (against Llandovery) over the weekend and he needs to build his confidence there before coming up to our level.

"When it does happen I suspect it will happen very quickly, but at this moment in time he is in exactly the right place in terms of his development and we don't need to push him. There is no pressure on him."

Carrying a name like Quinnell — father Derek and eldest brother Scott both played for Wales and the British Lions, while brother Craig also won 32 caps for his country — does inevitably bring with it pressure, though, and there is certain to be expectation among fans when Gavin does pull on a Scarlets jersey again.

"It is a burden, a real burden," added Davies. "I have told Gav it is about him being himself and he is very much his own man. Unfortunately, it is other people who put that burden on him and understandably so, I suppose.

"I want Gav to feel relaxed and comfortable here. We have done this with several players over the last couple of years, bringing them in to invest in them and ultimately they will come through for us.

"We are a long way down the road with a few of those players who need to front up now.

"But Gav is not at that stage yet. People will expect a lot from him, so when he does come back he has got to be comfortable that he is in the right place and we have to be comfortable as well. He is a little while off, he has got to keep his form with the RFC and we will take it step by step."