Young will be without the services of second row forward Craig Quinnell for six weeks, following his dismissal for stamping at the end of his side’s 23-13 defeat to Glasgow in their opening match of this season’s Celtic League last weekend
Into the side come Ben Evans at tight-head prop, Dan McShane at lock and Rob Appleyard and James Malpas in the back row. The positional changes see Ken Fourie move across to loose-head prop and Dan Baugh switched to open-side flanker
Additions to the Blues’ injury list include hooker T Rhys Thomas, who will be sidelined for up to four months with a torn cartilage, and Jim Brownrigg, who was stretchered off in Glasgow but expects to be available again in a fortnight.
Cardiff will be looking to avoid a hat trick of Celtic League defeats to the Irish province.. Connacht were victors by 6-3 at the Arms Park two years ago and last year edged out Cardiff 23-22 at the Sportsground.
Cardiff went down 23-13 in their opening game of the Celtic League away to Glasgow.
Meanwhile, Connacht have selected the same starting fifteen that beat Edinburgh in their opening game last weekend.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Donavan van Vuuren, 14 Nick Walne, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Nick Macleod, 11 Dean Dewdney, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Andrew Moore, 8 James Malpas, 7 Dan Baugh, 6 Rob Appleyard, 5 Andy Moore, 4 Dan McShane, 3 Ben Evans, 2 Andrew Lewis (captain), 1 Ken Fourie.
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 Ryan Price, 18 Chris Stamatkis, 19 Nathan Thomas, 20 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 21 Richard Jones, 22 Lee Abdul.
Connacht: 15 Mark McHugh, 14 Conor McPhillips, 13 Darren Yapp, 12 Tim Allnutt (captain), 11 Wayne Munn, 10 Eric Elwood, 9 Chris Keane, 8 Matt Lacey, 7 John O’Sullivan, 6 Michael Swift, 5 Andrew Farley, 4 Damian Browne, 3 Adrian Clarke, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Warren O’Kelly.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Fabian Boiroux, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Mick Carroll, 20 Connor O’Loughlin, 21 Daid Hewitt, 22 Ted Robinson.
