Cardiff Blues have been boosted by the return of several first team regulars as they make six changes for their Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Worcester Warriors on Saturday (3pm).
Wales’ Capital Region are aiming to finish the competition on a high at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park but face an English side determined to take momentum back into their survival fight.
With the region’s Wales Under-20s contingent now on international duty, Tomos Williams, Kirby Myhill, Taufa’ao Filise and James Down all come in to bolster the starting line-up.
Marc Thomas also steps up from the bench at loose-head prop and he is joined by Pontypridd flanker Jake Thomas.
Richard Hodges said: “There’s some new faces coming back into the group from the first team and they will want to knock on the door going into a big month with Connacht, Benetton Treviso, Edinburgh, Munster and Gloucester.
“There’s loads to play for at this time of year but the spotlight now is on Worcester Warriors and getting a win on Saturday
“We have a bit more of a spine to our team this week but there will be a lot of the same youngsters.
“It’s a home game and we pride ourselves on getting the best possible home record we can and it’s the last game of the competition.
“Worcester lost on the weekend to Quins but they will come down loaded up and ready to get some momentum back into the Premiership.”
Steve Shingler comes onto the replacements bench where he is joined by new signing Sion Bennett, who has linked up with the Blues from Northampton Saints for the remainder of the season.
Cardiff Blues: Aled Summerhill; Teri Gee, Cory Allen, Garyn Smith, Harri Millard; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Marc Thomas, Kirby Myhill, Taufa’ao Filise, Ben Edwards, James Down, Seb Davies, Jake Thomas, Cam Dolan (capt).
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Corey Domachowski, Ben Leung, Sion Bennett, James Sheekey, Pele Cowley, Steve Shingler, Gavin Dacey