Prop Filise, who has clocked up 213 games for Cardiff Blues, is one of two changes made to the starting line-up by Head Coach Danny Wilson.
Hooker Matthew Rees is also called into the team to face his former region in a must-win encounter for both sides.
A positional change will see Sam Waburton and Ellis Jenkins switch flanks in the back row.
Blaine Scully (hand), Alex Cuthbert (knee), Cory Allen (ankle), Chris Dicomidis (ankle) and Sam Hobbs (shoulder) are all unavailable for selection.
Head Coach Wilson said: “A top six finish is a challenge for us to get, but with four games to go we have got something big to fight for which maybe in previous seasons hasn’t always happened.
“This game becomes the biggest of our season; to give ourselves the opportunity to carry on with that quest for the top six.
“Every game is simply huge now and we have got to get a victory. We know to win away from home, at one of the toughest places to go in the Guinness PRO12 and get a result, it is going to need to be top drawer display from us.”
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Dan Fish, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 4 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Aled Summerhill