Cardiff Blues v Newport Gwent Dragons: PRO12 preview

Wales international Kristian Dacey starts at hooker for Cardiff

Danny Wilson has targeted a hat-trick of victories in Cardiff Blues' final three games as they attempt to finish in the top six of the Guinness PRO12.

The Blues sit ninth, five points behind sixth-placed Munster, and a win over Challenge Cup semi-finalists the Dragons on Sunday will boost their hopes of a Champions Cup place.

Cardiff face the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium next week and Wilson hopes his side will head into that game on the back of a fourth straight success.

"Dragons at home is a massive game especially off the back of a huge win for them [against Gloucester] and then it's the Ospreys, another derby," said the Blues head coach.

"They are great games to play at the end of the season when you have something to fight for.

We're not playing to make up the numbers, we genuinely have an opportunity to finish in the top six.

Danny Wilson

"We're not playing to make up the numbers, we genuinely have an opportunity to finish in the top six.

"If we do it will be a massive achievement considering the way the season started."

Wilson has recalled Wales international Kristian Dacey for the Cardiff Arms Park contest, with Jarrad Hoeata named in the second row and Josh Turnbull moving to No 8.

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Highlights of the Dragons' superb victory at Gloucester in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals

Dragons coach Kingsley Jones has kept faith with the team that recorded a fantastic victory at Kingsholm.

Charlie Davies must be content with a place on the bench despite his crucial late try against Gloucester, with Dorian Jones continuing at fly-half after his 15-point haul.

Despite last weekend's win, the Dragons are on a seven-game losing streak in the PRO12 and have not tasted victory on the road since the trip to Treviso in March 2015.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Dan Fish, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 James Down, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Turnbull.

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Manoa Vosawai, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Harri Millard, 23 Aled Summerhill.

Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 1 Phil Price, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Rynard Landman, 5 Nick Crosswell, 6 Lewis Evans (c), 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ed Jackson, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Geraint Rhys Jones.