Navidi – who made his debut for Cardiff Blues back in October 2009 – will become a centurion when he leads the team out at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.
Head Coach Danny Wilson makes a total of four changes from the starting line-up that claimed a deserved bonus point in Ulster last time out.
USA international back Blaine Scully, a summer recruit from Leicester Tigers, will make his debut for Cardiff Blues after being named on the wing.
Wales international Tom James also makes a return to the side for his first appearance since the opening day victory over Zebre.
Two changes in the pack see big prop Taufa’ao Filise clock up his 199
th appearance for Cardiff Blues in the front row while Ellis Jenkins returns in the No.7 shirt. Josh Turnbull, the Guinness PRO12 top try scorer, moves to blindside and skipper Navidi to back row.
Changes to the replacements bench include a return for scrum half Lloyd Williams, fresh from his heroics with Wales in the Rugby World Cup, and a call-up for Italian international back row Manoa Vosawai to face his countrymen.
Samoa international Rey Lee-Lo misses the game due to personal reasons while Jarrad Hoeata, Kristian Dacey, Cory Allen, Gareth Anscombe, Cam Dolan and Gavin Evans are ruled out through injury.
International trio Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert are all rested and given time to recover after Rugby World Cup duty with Wales.
Cardiff Blues opened the season with a 61-13 win over Zebre on the opening day of the season back in September, but Wilson expects a very different challenge his weekend.
He said: “Zebre were depleted when we played them at the start of the season, but we played some excellent rugby that day and really put them to the sword with high tempo and attacking rugby.
“We want to back that performance up against the same opposition, but we fully expect them to have eight or nine internationals back in from the Rugby World Cup.
“They are a very different team now and beat Edinburgh out in Italy last week which shows what they are capable of.
“It’s the fifth game of a long stint on the road for us and one we want to get a win in.
“We have been very competitive in all four away games in Ireland and the start to the season has given us a real challenge. We now want to finish that run of games off with an away victory.”
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Adam Thomas, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 4 Lou Reed, 5 James Down, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi (c)
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Garyn Smith