Matthew Rees will make his long-awaited return to action as Cardiff Blues travel to Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Champions Cup.
Speaking to the media today, head coach John Mulvihill revealed the former Wales and British & Irish Lions Test star would make his comeback and lead the team following his recovery from ACL surgery.
Rees has not played since the bonus-point victory over Ulster last March but after featuring for Pontypridd in the Principality Premiership, he has handed the Blues a significant boost.
Mulvhill said: “He’s someone who was going to get game time sooner or later so we have given him the responsibility of leading the team this week. He will get through until half-time and we will reassess how he’s going.
“He was the leading hooker towards the end of last year and unfortunately got injured but he wants to get back there and wants to show us that he can still be the number one hooker
“It’s important a guy like Smiler is playing because we have a pretty young side this weekend and we needed that experience and someone who sets the standards around the place.
“He galvanises the team around him, he will keep them on the straight and narrow and we won’t deviate too far from the game plan.”
Jarrod Evans is also in line to feature after recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered against Saracens last month.