Cardiff v Glasgow: Teams
Cardiff Blues have made five changes to their side for Saturday's home Pro 12 clash with Glasgow Warriors.
Last Updated: 30/09/11 12:35pm
Cardiff Blues have made five changes to their side for Saturday's home Pro 12 clash with Glasgow Warriors.
Chris Czekaj returns to full-back having recovered from a shoulder injury, while Tom James returns to the wing having overcome his calf problem.
There are two other changes in the backs with Casey Laulala and Lewis Jones starting, with Dafydd Hewitt and Richie Rees on the bench.
The forwards show one change, with Rhys Williams starting at hooker in place of the injured T Rhys Thomas, who underwent surgery on his knee and is likely to be out for four to six weeks.
Happy memories
Glagow, meanwhile, return to the Welsh capital almost exactly two years to the day since they emerged victorious on their first visit to the Cardiff City Stadium.
Sean Lineen's team are looking to put the disappointment of last week's narrow home defeat to Benetton Treviso well behind them, and add a Welsh scalp to the Leinster one landed in Dublin a fortnight ago.
The Warriors will take confidence from memories of the fantastic 21-9 success recorded at Cardiff City Stadium on 3 October 2009.
One of the Glasgow try scorers that day, Johnnie Beattie, will make his first start of the season on Saturday, having had a 22-minute run-out off the bench in the Treviso game.
That change - Beattie replacing Ryan Wilson at number eight 8 - is one of nine made by Lineen for the trip to southern Wales, the head coach having taken the opportunity to freshen up his side.
Kiwi lock Rob Verbakel, recently arrived in Scotland after playing a key role in Otago's ITM Cup campaign, is to make his debut in the boiler house.
An all-new front row will see Gordon Reid make a first competitive Warriors start at loose-head, Finlay Gillies return to the hooker berth, and Mike Cusack come back in at tight-head.
In the back row, meanwhile, captain Rob Harley moves from blindside flanker to the openside, with James Eddie set to don the number six jersey.
In the backs, Colin Gregor comes in for Henry Pyrgos at scrum-half, and Tommy Seymour makes a first start on the wing since suffering a back injury in the wake of the opening night trip to Ulster.
Rob Dewey will begin the game at outside centre, a role he was due to perform against Treviso before being forced to withdraw shortly before kick-off because of a tight groin.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Maama Molitika, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Deiniol Jones, 4 Paul Tito ( capt), 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Rhys Williams, 1 Sam Hobbs
Replacements: 16 Ieuan Davies, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 Ryan Harford, 19 James Down, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dafydd Hewitt
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Rob Dewey, 12 Troy Nathan, 11 Colin Shaw, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Colin Gregor, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Rob Harley (capt), 6 James Eddie, 5 Tom Ryder, 4 Rob Verbakel, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Finlay Gillies, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Rory Pitman, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Alex Dunbar, 23 Peter Horne