Cardiff Rugby have made seven changes for their EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash with Benetton Rugby on Saturday (18:30 local).

The Blue & Blacks travel to Treviso on the back of two weeks of BKT United Rugby Championship action in South Africa. 

They have made a host of changes to the side that took Hollywoodbets Sharks to the wire, with Evan Rees and Elijah Evans making their first senior competitive starts for the club.

With five senior locks on the sidelines, Rees slots into the second-row alongside Rory Thornton. 

The rest of the pack has a more familiar feel with Ed Byrne making his long-awaited return from injury alongside captain, Liam Belcher and Keiron Assiratti in the front-row. Alex Mann, Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence combine in the back-row.

Behind the pack, Ellis Bevan starts alongside Callum Sheedy, while Evans lines up with Ben Thomas in the centre. Ioan Lloyd continues at full-back with Jacob Beetham and Mason Grady on the wing. 

Corniel van Zyl said: “We’ve had to change the team up a bit due to injuries and the need to rotate a little bit. This time of year always tests and stretches your squad but that just gives opportunities to others, and we have still been able to select a strong team to go out to Italy and compete.

“The boys are looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to do something in knockout rugby. It’s a great competition, where the club has a lot of history, and we will be giving it everything we’ve got. 

“Our recent matches with Benetton have been very close but we are acutely aware of how dangerous they can be at home. They have quality all over the pitch so we will need to fight for everything and put as much of our game on the pitch as possible.”

Van Zyl has selected a traditional 5-3 split on the bench with hooker Evan Lloyd, who converted to the front-row after age-grade rugby covering the back-row.

If triumphant at Stadio di Monigo, Cardiff face an away trip to Exeter Chiefs or Munster next weekend.

Cardiff Rugby team to face Benetton Rugby at Stadio di Monigo on Saturday, April 4 (18:30 local / 17:30 BST):

Ioan Lloyd; Mason Grady, Elijah Evans, Ben Thomas, Jacob Beetham; Callum Sheedy, Ellis Bevan; Ed Byrne, Liam Belcher ©, Keiron Assiratti, Evan Rees, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Rhys Barratt, Sam Wainwright, Lucas de la Rua, Evan Lloyd, Ieuan Davies, Rory Jennings, Cam Winnett.