Director of Rugby Mark Hammett has made eight changes for the Guinness PRO12 clash at the Sportsground after their battling defeat away to champions Leinster.
Tight-head prop Taufa’ao Filise makes his first start of the campaign, with Adam Jones rested, while Gethin Jenkins packs down at loosehead. Samoa international Filo Paulo returns to partner All Blacks ace Jarrad Hoeata in the second row whilst Macauley Cook and Manoa Vosawai come into the back-row to play alongside Sam Warburton.
Adam Thomas is back in the side at full-back in place of Gareth Davies with Rhys Patchell moving back into the pivot position. Dan Fish returns on the wing while fit-again Gavin Evans joins forces with Cory Allen in midfield.
Connacht have also made eight changes after they suffered their first defeat of the season in Glasgow.Ireland international Kieran Marmion returns to the starting line-up to mark his 60th Connacht appearance while wing Niyi Adeolokun and centre Craig Ronaldson represent the other changes to the young back line.
Up front, prop Ronan Loughney earns his first start of the season with Nathan White also coming in to the front row. Mick Kearney and Quinn Roux start at lock and Willie Faloon returns to start at openside flanker.
The Blues have won eight of their last nine games against Pat Lam’s side, including a gutsy 22-15 away win in Galway at the tail-end of last season. But the Irishmen did emerge victorious in Cardiff last season, as they battled to a 26-22 triumph in February.
Mark Hammett’s men have lost just once at the Sportsground back in 2009 and will be looking to continue their winning ways. Hammett said: “We know Connacht is a tough place to go and play. It’s a hard assignment out in Galway, with the travel and potential weather conditions. But both teams are playing in it and we have got to deal with it.
“We have made improvements to our game every week this season and this is another fixture when we try and build on that. We were disappointed last weekend as we should have definitely taken a bonus point against Leinster.”
Cardiff Blues: A Thomas, A Cuthbert, C Allen, G Evans, D Fish, R Patchell, L Jones; G Jenkins, M Rees (c), T Filise, J Hoeata, F Paulo, M Cook, S Warburton, M Vosawai.
Replacements: K Dacey, S Hobbs, S Andrews, J Turnbull, J Navidi, T Knoyle, G Davies, G Walsh.
Connacht: D Leader, N Adeolokun, R Henshaw, C Ronaldson, D Poolman, J Carty, K Marmion; R Loughrey, D Heffernan, N White, M Kearney, Q Roux, J Muldoon (c), W Faloon, G Naoupu.
Replacements: S Delahunt, D Buckley, R Ah You, A Muldowney, E McKeon, I Porter, F Carr, S Layden.
