Cardiff v Harlequins - Teams

Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby David Young has recalled second row Paul Tito for Friday's Heineken Cup clash against Harlequins at the Arms Park.

With injuries and illness having taken their toll, Young was left with just twenty-five fit players to select from for the Pool Three match.

Young also knows that his side's fate is down to them, with two wins from their last two games taking them through to the quarter-finals.

"I think this is the first season we've had a realistic opportunity of reaching the last eight for a number of years," he said.

"There's only one reason we haven't before and that's because we haven't been good enough.

"However, we've compiled a squad which is very competitive and I think we've shocked a few people that we are in this position.

"What we have to do is keep our squad fit for both games, as we are a bit stretched, and take our opportunities. It's not an easy path, we still have a lot to do, but we feel are capable of doing it."

The back line remains unchanged from that which played in the narrow defeat to Edinburgh last week, with Young's only three changes coming in the pack.

Tito replaces Scott Morgan in the second row, whilst Gethin Jenkins and Taufa'o Filise respectively come in at loosehead and tighthead.

Meanwhile, Harlequins have named a side showing seven changes to that which faced Leicester last Sunday in the Guinness Premiership.

Injuries force a number of changes in the pack, including the absence of Jim Evans and Chris Robshaw who both picked up knocks against the Tigers.

Tom Guest will therefore replace Robshaw on the blindside flank and Nicolas Spanghero returns from injury to start in the second row alongside James Percival - Ollie Kohn occupying a spot on the bench.

The front row remains the same, with the only other change seeing Paul Volley replace Will Skinner as captain.

In the backs, Tom Williams comes in on the wing for the injured Ugo Monye - another casualty from last Sunday's match - whilst Hal Luscombe replaces Jordan Turner-Hall in the centres.

Scrum-half Steve So'oialo is promoted from the bench, while Danny Care is on the bench alongside Tosh Masson and Phil Davies.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Jamie Roberts, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Gareth Thomas; 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Jason Spice; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Gareth Williams, 3 Taufa'o Filise, 4 Deiniol Jones, 5 Paul Tito, 6 Maama Molitika, 7 Martyn Williams, 8 Xavier Rush (c).
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 T. Rhys Thomas, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Mark Lewis, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Rhys Jones, 22 Jamie Robinson.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 Hal Luscombe, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Tom Williams; 10 Chris Malone, 9 Steve So'oialo; 1 Ceri Jones, 2 Gary Botha, 3 Mike Ross, 4 James Percival, 5 Nicolas Spanghero, 6 Tom Guest, 7 Paul Volley (c), 8 Chris Hala'ufia.
Replacements: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Ricky Nebbett, 18 Ollie Kohn, 19 Phil Davies, 20 Danny Care, 21 Adrian Jarvis, 22 Tosh Masson.