The big Samoan lock arrived in Cardiff in early March and starts for the Blues in the second row alongside James Down.
The Blues welcome back Welsh internationals Lloyd Williams, Scott Andrews and Lou Reed to the match day squad following Wales clinching the Six Nations championship last Saturday. However, they are without host of big name players with Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Josh Navidi, Rhys Patchell, Alex Cuthbert and Andries Pretorius all having picked up injuries.
It will be a big ask for the Blues who face a Benetton Treviso side that are unbeaten in their last two RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures, winning against Munster 34-10 at Stadio Monigo and drawing 29-all with Ulster at Ravenhill. Treviso’s only defeat in their last five home games in all competitions was 13-14 to Leicester in the European Cup on 15 December.
Cardiff Blues’ only win in their last four PRO12 matches was 17-16 over Edinburgh at Murrayfield in round 15. The Blues have won all 15 previous contests they have played against Italian opponents in all competitions.
The two sides have met on five previous occasions with Blues taking five wins and Treviso gaining just one losing bonus point for a 13-20 defeat at Stadio Monigo in the PRO12 on 3 March 2012.
BENETTON TREVISO v CARDIFF BLUES
At Stadio Monigo, 7.30pm local time (6.30pm UK & Ireland live on S4C)
15 Jason Tovey 14 Owen Williams 13 Gavin Evans 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lloyd Williams
8 Luke Hamilton 7 Rory Watts-Jones 6 Michael Paterson 5 James Down 4 Filo Paulo 3 Benoit Bourrust 2 Kristian Dacey 1 Taufa’ao Filise
16 Marc Breeze 17 Sam Hobbs 18 Scott Andrews 19 Lou Reed 20 Thomas Young 21 Robin Copeland 22 Lewis Jones 23 Gareth Davies
Bradley Davies – Ankle ligament damage back in early May
Josh Navidi – Hamstring injury - fitness test next week
Sam Warburton – Knee injury - Assessed on Monday
Andries Pretorius – Shoulder reconstruction, back in early May
Tom Williams – Shoulder dislocation, back in pre season
Liam Davies – Back spasm
Rhys Patchell – Shoulder injury assessed on Monday
Jamie Roberts – Knee injury assessed on Monday
Alex Cuthbert – Grade two hamstring strain back in four to six weeks
Leigh Halfpenny – Sprained ankle fitness next week
Andi Kyriacou – Neck injury ongoing
Rhys Williams – Shoulder injury back in four weeks
Tom James - Fractured sesamoid (big toe) fitness assessed next week