Blues boss Dai Young says the Lions Number 8 will have a role to play as his side go for Amlin Challenge Cup glory.
Powell found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons earlier this year when , whilst under the influence of alcohol, he took a golf buggy from the Wales teams’ hotel and drove on a public highway.
That indiscretion earned him expulsion from the national squad, a £1000 fine and a 15 month driving ban.
On top of that, Powell has missed matches for the Blues, including last weekend’s 33-24 win over Ulster.
But Young has rejected suggestions that speculation over Andy Powell’s future was behind his decision to overlook the Wales international against Ulster.
“Andy will play a big part in the run-in to the end of the season.
“But that is just press speculation and those reasons given there have nothing to do with his absence against Ulster.
“But we just felt against Ulster that he had played the last two games while Maama Molitika has been on the bench.
“So it is a matter of utilising your squad and making sure that every game we go into that we are not fielding a tired team.”
The Blues play Newcastle Falcons on Sunday (15:00) in the fourth Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final.
