Cardiff Blues welcome Toyota Cheetahs to the Welsh capital, looking to bring a four-game losing streak to an end.
The hosts’ skipper, Lloyd Williams, will become only the second player to join the region’s ‘200 Club’, following in the footsteps of Taufa’ao Filise.
There has been a shake-up to the back-line as Jarrod Evans lines up at inside centre, while Jason Tovey makes his first start of the season. Replacement Alun Lawrence could make his PRO14 debut.
Cheetahs flanker, Junior Pokomela, will make his 50th appearance for the South African outfit, who is captained by Springboks legend, Ruan Pienaar. Rhyno Smith – the Championship’s top try scorer this season – is named at full back.
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Harri Millard, Rey Lee-Lo, Jarrod Evans, Aled Summerhill; Jason Tovey, Lloyd Williams (capt); Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Will Boyde, Nick Williams
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Keiron Assiratti, Macauley Cook, Alun Lawrence, Lewis Jones, Willis Halaholo, Jason Harries
Toyota Cheetahs: Rhyno Smith; Clayton Blommetjies, William Small-Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Anthony Volmink; Tian Schoeman, Ruan Pienaar (capt); Luan de Bruin, Joseph Dweba, Aranos Coetzee, Sintu Manjezi, Walt Steenkamp, Gerhard Olivier, Junior Pokomela, Jasper Wiese
Replacments: Wilmar Arnoldi, Boan Venter, Erich de Jager, JP du Preez, Sias Koen, Tian Meyer, George Whitehead, Louis Fouche
From the Vault: Cardiff Blues 24 Toyota Cheetahs 21
Cardiff Blues picked up a stunning victory against Cheetahs when these sides met in 2018/19.
Having picked up their first win of the campaign against Munster a week earlier, but it was Walt Steenkamp who crossed the whitewash first for the visitors.
Rey Lee-Lo responded for the hosts and they held a slender lead at the break courtesy of a Gareth Anscombe penalty.
Sibhale Maxwane and Benhard Janse van Rensburg put the visitors in control in the second half with quickfire tries.
However, the Blues responded admirably, as tries from Lloyd Williams and Olly Robinson sealed the victory.
Head-to-Head: Lloyd Williams v Ruan Pienaar
The first few weeks of the campaign have been played in miserable conditions, and the battle of the number nines have bene crucial.
Double centurion Lloyd Williams has already spoken about his determination to top off his special occasion with a win, and he’ll be up against experience South African international, Ruan Pienaar.
Pienaar became a fan favourite during his time with Ulster, cementing his place as one of the world’s best scrum halves, and is also a threat from the tee.