(4)
CARDIFF BLUES (5th, Con A) v CONNACHT (4th, Con A), Cardiff Arms Park, 5.15pm (live TG4/S4C/Premier Sports 2)
Team News: Making his first start of the season, Cillian Gallagher is one of ten changes to the Connacht team that secured their Challenge Cup quarter-final place last weekend, with six players away on international duty and Gavin Thornbury picking up a shoulder injury in training during the week.
Finlay Bealham is rejoined by Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan in the front row, with hooker Heffernan having signed a contract extension this week. Gallagher partners James Cannon in the engine room, while captain Jarrad Butler and Colby Fainga'a return in the back row with Eoin McKeon reverting to the blindside berth.
David Horwitz backs up from Bordeaux, featuring at half-back alongside James Mitchell, and Cian Kelleher replaces Darragh Leader in an otherwise unchanged back-three. On-loan centre Tom Daly starts his second game of the season alongside Kyle Godwin.
Meanwhile, eight-times capped Wales hooker Kristian Dacey returns from a shoulder injury to captain Cardiff Blues in this Conference A duel. He is one of eight changes made to the side that overcame Lyon 33-14 in their final Heineken Champions Cup pool game.
Shane Lewis-Hughes, who featured in recent European encounters against Glasgow Warriors and Lyon, makes his first PRO14 start, alongside Olly Robinson and Nick Williams in the back row. Robinson dons the number 7 shirt in Josh Navidi's absence.
Brad Thyer and George Earle are also introduced to the pack, while Steven Shingler and Lloyd Williams both return to form the half back partnership, with diminutive full-back Matthew Morgan is the other change in the hosts' back-line.
James Botham, the 20-year-old grandson of England cricket legend Ian Botham, is in line for his Blues debut off a bench which also includes Willis Halaholo, who returns to the matchday squad after being rested last week, and Dan Fish, who provides the out-half cover.
CARDIFF BLUES: Matthew Morgan; Owen Lane, Harri Millard, Rey Lee-Lo, Aled Summerhill; Steven Shingler, Lloyd Williams; Brad Thyer, Kristian Dacey (capt), Dmitri Arhip, George Earle, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Olly Robinson, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Rhys Carré, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, James Botham, Lewis Jones, Dan Fish, Willis Halaholo.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O'Halloran; Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Daly, Matt Healy; David Horwitz, James Mitchell; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, James Cannon, Cillian Gallagher, Eoin McKeon, Colby Fainga'a, Jarrad Butler (capt).
Replacements: Tom McCartney, Matthew Burke, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Joe Maksymiw, Paul Boyle, Angus Lloyd, Conor Fitzgerald, Stephen Fitzgerald.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Ian Davies (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Cardiff Blues to win: 2/5; Draw: 14/1; Connacht to win: 2/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Andy Friend (Connacht) - "We have won eight of our last ten games so we go into the game with confidence but we know what a tough team Cardiff are to play, especially when they are at home.
"These inter-conference games have a huge bearing on the overall standings in the PRO14 so we're fully aware of the importance of the fixture. We have made a few changes to our matchday squad with players away on international duty and a few injuries to contend with, but we have picked a team that we have full confidence in to go to Cardiff and get a result."
John Mulvihill (Cardiff Blues) - "We came through the Lyon game really well (winning 33-14), and we've got a few boys back this week, including Kristian Dacey who will captain the side. He leads by example, without saying too much, and is one of our big ball carriers, so we hope he can continue with the good form he's shown this season.
"This week's been one of the best we've had in terms of preparation over the last few weeks, in terms of having the full week to train. This our first chance to have a real crack at Connacht, and if we win this week it will really put us in touch with third place.
"But if we lose, we'll be facing an eight to 10-point turnaround for us. They will be missing a few key players to international call-ups, as will we, but our depth is good in those areas and we'll be able to put out a good team."
Top Scorers - 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14: Cardiff Blues - Points: Gareth Anscombe 96; Tries: Rey Lee-Lo 7; Connacht - Points: Jack Carty 109; Tries: Cian Kelleher 5
2018/19 TEAM FORM: Cardiff Blues - Played 13, Won 6, Lost 7, 32 Points; L 33-32 v Leinster (home), L 27-25 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 26-24 v Zebre (away), W 37-13 v Munster (home), W 24-21 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 23-15 v Dragons (away), L 21-10 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 37-0 v Zebre (home), L 40-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 16-12 v Ulster (away), W 19-16 v Dragons (home), W 34-5 v Scarlets (away), L 20-11 v Ospreys (away); Connacht - Played 13, Won 7, Lost 6, 37 Points; L 27-26 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 32-13 v Zebre (home), L 17-10 v Edinburgh (away), W 33-20 v Scarlets (home), L 20-3 v Leinster (home), W 22-15 v Ulster (away), L 22-17 v Ospreys (away), W 33-12 v Dragons (home), W 31-14 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), W 21-17 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), L 33-29 v Leinster (away), W 21-12 v Ulster (home), L 31-24 v Munster (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, October 3, 2015 - Connacht 36 Cardiff Blues 31, the Sportsground
Friday, December 4, 2016 - Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16, Cardiff Arms Park
Friday, November 25, 2016 - Connacht 18 Cardiff Blues 7, the Sportsground
Sunday, February 12, 2017 - Cardiff Blues 13 Connacht 19, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, September 23, 2017 - Connacht 15 Cardiff Blues 17, the Sportsground
Friday, November 24, 2017 - Cardiff Blues 36 Connacht 30, Cardiff Arms Park
MATCH FACTS:
- Cardiff Blues have won two of their last three GUINNESS PRO14 matches, which coincidentally were all against fellow Welsh regions
- Cardiff's only home defeat this season in the PRO14 came in round 1 by a solitary point to defending champions Leinster
- Connacht have lost just twice in their last ten fixtures in all tournaments, both on the road in the PRO14, to fellow Irish provinces Leinster and Munster
- Connacht have lost on their last five visits to Wales, while their only victory in their last nine trips there was over the Blues at Cardiff Arms Park in February 2017
- Cardiff have won their last two fixtures against Connacht but have not won three in-a-row against the westerners since 2012
- Connacht's three previous victories at the Arms Park in the Championship were against Cardiff RFC in August 2001, and the Blues in February 2013 and February 2017
