Blues v Dragons: Teams

The Dragons have been forced into several changes for their trip to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Pat Leach and Jason Tovey are among those ruled out of the derby through injury - however Aled Brew and Scott Morgan are included after being cleared by a WRU disciplinary hearing.

Matthew Jones will start at fly-half, with Will Harries coming in at full-back while player-coach Shaun Connor is drafted in on the bench.

Meanwhile the club have released David Bishop following his trial at Rodney Parade.

Cardiff Blues full-back Ben Blair has been named in the starting XV for the first time this season - with the New Zealand just five points away from passing the 1,000 landmark.

Blair missed the opening weeks of the season through injury and his is joined by Gethin Jenkins, Paul Tito and Leigh Halfpenny in the side.

And director of rugby David Young is pleased to welcome back the quartet of key players.

"We welcome a few senior players back which is good news ahead of a big derby match," he said.

"Gethin Jenkins has recovered from his shoulder injury, Ben Blair from his knee injury, Paul Tito from his calf strain and Leigh Halfpenny's lip has healed. So we are near full strength."

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Tafa'ao Filise, 18 John Yapp, 19 Deiniol Jones, 20 Michael Paterson, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Dan Parks, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.

Dragons: 15 Will Harries, 14 Matthew Pewtner, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Matthew Jones, 9 Wayne Evans, 1 Hugh Gustafson, 2 Steve Jones, 3 Ben Castle, 4 Luke Charteris (capt), 5 Rob Sidoli, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 8 Gavin Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Nigel Hall, 18 Aaron Coundley, 19 Scott Morgan, 20 Andrew Coombs, 21 Adam Hughes, 22 Nicky Griffiths, 23 Shaun Connor