The 21 year-old injured his knee at the end of last season and has made a good recovery. Merriman was set to be involved for Gloucester's 'A' side against Saracens last week, before the game was postponed.
Merriman played for Lydney last weekend to assist him in his recovery, and Friday night's game will be the next step back to full fitness for the highly rated open-side, although he will be hoping his Welsh side will be able to improve on last season's sixth position in the Six Nations.
Wales U21 Vs England U21s takes place at Newport's Rodney Parade ground on Friday 4 February, kick off 7.05pm.
Wales under 21: Ricky Williams (Newport); Aled Brew (Ospreys/Neath), Andrew Bishop (Neath), Gavin Evans (Scarlets/Llanelli), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff); Matthew Jones (Ospreys), Wayne Evans (Carmarthen Quins); Scott Roberts (Bridgend), Duane Goodfield (Pontypridd), Cai Griffiths (Neath/Ospreys), Alun Wyn-Jones (Swansea), Ian Evans (Neath), Chris Davies (Bridgend), Rhys Shellard (Pontypridd), Jonathan Mills (Scarlets, captain)
Replacements: Rhys James (UWIC), Ross Davies (Newbridge), Phillip Osborne (Cardiff), James Merriman (Hartpury Coll/Gloucester), Tom Smith (Neath), Aled Thomas (Carmarthen Quins), Rhodri McAtee (Penzance)
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