Cardiff Rugby have made nine changes as they kick-off their European Challenge Cup campaign against Stade Francais on Saturday (2pm local).
The Blue & Blacks switch attention to European affairs following an impressive start to the BKT United Rugby Championship with five wins from six.
Corniel van Zyl has opted to refresh his side for the trip to Stade Jean Bouin with Alun Lawrence named captain and Iwan Stephens making his long-awaited return from injury.
Stephens starts in an exciting back-three with Mason Grady who makes his 50th appearance and Matty Young, who makes his first, as one of three debutants in the match-day 23.
Cornel Smit makes his first start for the club and partners Steffan Emanuel, while Ioan Lloyd continues at fly-half, partnering Ellis Bevan.
In the forwards, Lawrence packs down in between dynamic international duo James Botham and Taine Basham, while Rory Thornton comes into the second-row alongside Josh McNally.
Evan Lloyd returns to the front-row, following his involvement with Wales last week, with Rhys Barratt continuing at loose-head and Sam Wainwright making his first competitive start for the club at tight-head.
Van Zyl said: “It’s great to go into a new competition, with a different flavour and different opposition and countries. We are excited about the challenge ahead and looking forward to it.
“Stade Francais are a quality team and they have quality players. They’re a typical French team – very unstructured and like to play what they seein front of them and that’s always a challenge.
“We will need to stop their momentum, focus on the collisions, try to stay in front of them and when we have the ball, put our game on the pitch and find some space.
“They have been doing really well in the Top 14 season, they are sitting fourth in the log now, so it will be a good challenge for us.
“We are excited and this is a competition we have history in. It’s in the back of our minds but for now we focus on game to game and see where it takes us. The mission is to get as many points on the log as we can.”
Scrum-half Ieuan Davies, on loan for the season from Bath, and Elijah Evans are also both in line for their competitive debuts from the bench.
Cardiff Rugby to face Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin on Saturday, December 6 (2PM local/1PM GMT)
Matty Young; Mason Grady, Cornel Smit, Steffan Emanuel, Iwan Stephens; Ioan Lloyd, Ellis Bevan; Rhys Barratt, Evan Lloyd, Sam Wainwright, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Taine Basham, Alun Lawrence (capt).
Replacements: Daf Hughes, Ioan Emanuel, Javan Sebastian, George Nott, Dan Thomas, Ieuan Davies, Harri Wilde, Elijah Evans