Willis Halaholo will make his Cardiff Blues debut as Danny Wilson makes eight changes for the Guinness PRO12 clash.
The Super Rugby-winning centre arrive last month and has now enjoyed more than a full week of training with his new region.
He partners former Hurricanes teammate Rey Lee-Lo in the centre, with Wales Under-20s star Rhun Williams also in line for his regional debut.
Six of the seven players released from Wales training go straight back into the starting line-up. In the back line, Williams starts on the wing and namesake Lloyd Williams in the number nine jersey.
Up front, Rhys Gill and Scott Andrews pack down either side of captain Matthew Rees and Sam Warburton and Ellis Jenkins start on the flanks, with Kristian Dacey on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Benetton Treviso line-up contains a number of experienced internationals, with Tito Tebaldi, Tommaso Benvenuti and Alberto Sgarbi appearing in the starting XV, while Alberto de Marchi, Luke McLean and Tommaso Allen start the game on the bench.
Did You Know?
- Benetton Rugby Treviso have lost their last three matches in the Guinness PRO12 since beating Newport Gwent Dragons at Stadio Monigo on 23 September.
- The Italians have won three of their last four home games against Welsh opponents in 2016.
- Cardiff Blues began the Guinness PRO12 season with four straight victories but have now slipped to three successive defeats.
- The Welshmen have lost only one of their last six away games in all tournaments: 24-46 at Ospreys in round 6 of the PRO12.
- The last four meetings between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Blues have not been victorious at Stadio Monigo since March 2012.
What They Said
Head coach Danny Wilson admits the Guinness PRO12 clash against Benetton Treviso has taken on a heightened magnitude following a derby date to Scarlets
It was Cardiff Blues’ third consecutive defeat in the Championship following a flying start, and they will now face a fully loaded Treviso outfit in Italy.
Wilson said: “Treviso are a very different proposition at home to what they are away, you only get a grip of that once you experience it. They are a tough side to beat at their place.
“We will go there with a group that will learn from being out there and that experience, but with a target to win the game.
“It’s a big achievement when you go to those places and win. It was certainly a big achievement going to Zebre and winning. We go to Treviso and our aim is exactly the same.
“If you are going to be challenging for things and in the top six, those are the types of games you go and win.
“As we know many sides go to Treviso and slip up or find it very difficult. We are not taking this lightly, we know it will be a great win if we can get it.”
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Blaine Scully, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Rhun Williams; Steve Shingler, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Gill, Matthew Rees (C), Scott Andrews, George Earle, Jarrad Hoeata, Sam Warburton, Ellis Jenkins, Macauley Cook
Replacements: Kris Dacey, Brad Thyer, Dillon Lewis, James Down, Seb Davies, Tomos Williams, Jarrod Evans, Dan Fish
Benetton Treviso: Jayden Hayward; Michael Tagicakibau, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi (C), Angelo Esposito; Ian McKinley, Tito Tebaldi; Nicola Quaglio, Luca Bigi, Simone Ferrari, Filippo Gerosa, Dean Budd, Marco Lazzaroni, Abraham Steyn, Marco Barbini
Replacements: Ornel Gega, Alberto De Marchi, Cherif Traore, Marco Fuser, Francesco Minto, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Allan, Luke McLean
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
Assitant Referees: Dewi Phillips (WRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)