Blues coach Dai Young has made six changes to the team which fell to Ulster last weekend, including the return from injury of fullback Donavan van Vuuren and winger Nick Walne, for the match against fellow Welsh side Gwent Dragons.
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Craig Morgan switches from fullback to wing, while Gareth Williams and Ben Evans return to the front row and Robin Sowden-Taylor starts at flanker.
Craig Quinnell has a torn hamstring so Jim Brownrigg starts at lock.
Not available for selection are Dean Dewdney, Richard Smith and Rhys Thomas, all long-term injuries, plus Andrew Lewis (head injury), Nick Macleod (knee), James Malpas (shoulder), Pieter Muller (ankle), Jonny Vaughton (hip), Darren Crompton, Allen and Quinnell. Four others – Iestyn Harris, Tom Shanklin, Martyn Williams and Rhys Williams – are on Rugby World Cup duty with Wales.
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Meanwhile, A N Other is proving to be the Neath-Swansea Ospreys’ most versatile player this season, appearing in six positions in the side named to play The Borders at Netherdale tonight.
The injury-ravaged region have named A N Other at right wing, hooker and loosehead prop in the starting lineup, while he also takes up three places on the bench in the squad to play the bottom-placed Borders side.
“We are having a tough time at the moment, with injuries and World Cup call-ups taking their toll on the squad,” admitted coach Lyn Jones.
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“We are looking forward to having a break after Friday’s match, and getting the full squad back and fit for the Leinster match at the end of the month.
It is not a good time to be travelling to Scotland with such a strain on resources, and at one stage we were only planning to travel if we could opt for unopposed scrums.”
In other Celtic League games tonight, the Celtic Warriors will be looking for revenge over Celtic Cup victors Glasgow, and the Llanelli Scarlets try to improve on their second placing in the table at in-form Leinster.
Friday: Cardiff Blues v Gwent Dragons (7.05pm), Celtic Warriors v Glasgow Rugby (7.15pm), The Borders v Neath-Swansea Ospreys (7.30pm), Edinburgh Rugby v Munster (7.30pm), Leinster Lions v Llanelli Scarlets (7.35pm).
Saturday: Connacht v Ulster (2.30pm).
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