Bath v Cardiff: Teams

Cardiff Blues kick off their LV=Cup campaign with an away game against Bath at the Recreation Ground on Friday.

With 10 Blues players away on international duty, David Young gives the opportunity for the youngsters to make their mark.

Dan Fish, who made an assured debut against Aironi last weekend, starts at full-back with another Academy player, James Loxton, starting on the wing.

In the centres,, Dafydd Hewitt returns from training with Wales and will partner Gavin Evans, while Cardiff RFC fly-half Gareth Davies also starts.

In the forwards, Gareth Williams returns from a long lay-off having recovered from neck and shoulder operations, to start at hooker. He is accompanied in the front row by Tom Davies and John Yapp, who has also returned from the Welsh squad.

There is a new pairing at second row, with Academy product James Down packing down next to Bryn Griffiths, who is set to make his competitive debut for the Blues.

The back row sees Andries Pretorius captain the side for the first time, with fellow former Hartpury College pupil Tom Brown making his competitive debut at number eight. Ben White starts at openside.

The Blues are without a number of key players: Jamie Roberts is still out with a wrist injury, alongside Leigh Halfpenny (ankle), Taufa'ao Filise (shoulder) and Ben Blair (knee).

Ceri Sweeney and Casey Laulala both picked up knocks in last weekend's win over Aironi and were not considered for selection.

Intriguing

Meanwhile, Bath will field an intriguing mix of familiar faces and some of the club's rising stars.

Jacques Boussuge, Ross Batty and John van der Giessen all make their first starts for Bath, whilst Matt Banahan is given the captain's armband for the first time.

There is also a welcome return to the bench for Peter Short, Lee Mears and Aaron Jarvis, who are all back from injury.

Bath: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Jacques Boussuge, 13 Matt Banahan (c), 12 Ben Williams, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Josh Ovens, 5 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 4 John van der Giessen, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Ross Batty, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 David Barnes, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Peter Short, 20 Will Skuse, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Paul Roberts, 23 Nick Scott.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 James Loxton, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Tom Brown, 7 Ben White, 6 Andries Pretorius (c), 5 James Down, 4 Bryn Griffiths, 3 John Yapp, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Tom Davies.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Ian George, 19 Corey Hill, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Tom Slater, 22 Joe Griffin, 23 Owen Williams.