Five players involved in the recently completed autumn international matches return for Cardiff Blues in Saturday's Heineken Cup match at Gloucester.
Rhys Williams, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Kort Schubert are all in the starting XV after a series of fitness tests held this morning.
Less good news was that other selection options were severely curtailed by a long injury list. The players unavailable are Andrew Lewis (hip), Craig Quinnell (calf), Jonny Vaughton (hamstring), Richard Smith (shoulder), Ryan Powell (ribs), Tristan Davies (finger) and the long-term absentees Jamie and Nick Robinson and Dan Baugh. In addition, Matthew Nuthall, James Malpas and Mark Lewis are not registered to play in the Heineken Cup.
The team against Gloucester features Gethin Jenkins switching to tight-head prop and Rhys Williams returning to the number 15 shirt after earlier European outings at centre.
Team: Rhys Williams; Fereti Tuilagi, Shaun James, Tom Shanklin, Craig Morgan; Lee Thomas, Dean Dewdney; John Yapp, Rhys Thomas, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Nathan Thomas, Kort Schubert, Martyn Williams (captain)
Replacements: Ben Evans, Martin Jones, Gareth Williams, Nathan Budgett, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Nick Macleod, Nick Walne