Cardiff v Aironi: Teams

Ceri Sweeney will make his long-awaited return at fly-half when Cardiff Blues take on Aironi on Friday.

Sweeney has not played for the Blues since November 27, but he will partner Tom Slater at half-back against the Italians.

Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts will pair up in the midfield for the first time this season, while Leigh Halfpenny is promoted from the bench to start on the wing.

Blues director of rugby Dai Young has also tinkered with his pack, with Tom Brown and John Yapp coming in.

And although Aironi have yet to win in the Magners League this season, Young is expecting a tough match.

"We have faced Aironi already this season and it was a hard match out in Italy. Certainly Rowland Phillips will get their team well organized," he said.

Tough

"I think their results have shown that they've been very close in the last couple of games and recently recorded a famous win over Biarritz in the Heineken Cup.

"We are expecting a tough game, but it's a game we have to win. That's where we are in the season. We need the wins and bonus points if we can get them."

Italy international Kaine Robertson will make his first start for Aironi in Cardiff.

The winger has been sidelined since injuring himself in pre-season but he has been passed fit to play.

"I can't wait to play again" said Robertson. "I'm sorry that Giulio Toniolatti has been suspended, but I'm really happy to be back and ready to help my team.

"It will be like an international game against such an important team with a lot of Welsh Test players"

Aironi have made a number of changes for the match, with Gilberto Pavan and Pablo Canavosio also coming into the backs.

In the pack, Nick Williams, Joshua Furno, Carlo Del Fava and Salvatore Perugini all start.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Tom Slater, 8 Tom Brown, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 John Yapp, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Gareth Williams, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Sam Hobbs, 19 Deiniol Jones, 20 Martyn Williams, 21 Rhys Downes, 22 Dan Parks, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.

Aironi: 15 Julien Laharrague; 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Rodd Penney, 12 Gilberto Pavan, 11 Matteo Pratichetti; 10 James Marshall, 9 Pablo Canavosio; 1 Salvatore Perugini, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 3 Fabio Staibano; 4 Joshua Furno, 5 Carlo Del Fava (cap); 6 Simone Favaro, 7 Gareth Krause, 8 Nick Williams.
Replacements: 16 Luigi Ferraro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Josh Sole, 21 Michael Wilson, 22 Gabriel Pizarro, 23 Paolo Buso