Posted by Cardiff RFC have made seven changes to the side that beat Llanelli two weeks ago for the top-of-the-table clash against Carmarthen Quins at Carmarthen Park on Friday night.
Last week’s game against Swansea being called off due to the illness in the Whites squad has given a couple of players time to recover from knocks, while there is some change in the players available to Steve Law from the Cardiff Blues squad.
The likes of Macauley Cook, Lewis Jones and Dan Fish are all expected to be involved with John Mulvihill’s side as they face Calvisano in a European Challenge Cup clash on Saturday afternoon at the Arms Park, while Max Llewellyn and Ioan Davies are believed to be suffering injuries picked up against Llanelli.
However, Keiron Assiratti has been made available to the Blue and Blacks this weekend and will pack down in the front row alongside Evan Yardley who returns to hooker as Iestyn Harris switches places with him and is on the bench.
The back five of the pack remain the same but there are big changes in the backline where Gareth Thompson and James Beal are the only starting survivors from the win over Llanelli.
There are welcome returns for Barney Nightingale and Teri Gee, with the former having suffered a severe concussion against Ebbw Vale in November, while the latter missed the Llanelli game with a groin complaint.
Elsewhere Tom Habberfield is recalled at scrum-half, Leon Andrews joins Nightingale in the centre and Joe Scrivens gets the nod at full-back to complete the back three, his first start since November.
On the bench, Will Davies-King and Ethan Lloyd are the other Cardiff Blues players made available, covering tighthead and scrum-half respectively, while Edd Howley drops down from the starting XV and Joe Gatt returns with each covering the outside backs.
Cardiff RFC: Joe Scrivens, James Beal, Leon Andrews, Barney Nightingale, Teri Gee, Gareth Thompson, Tom Habberfield; Thomas Davies, Evan Yardley, Keiron Assiratti, James Thomas, Sam Pailor, Alex Everett, Zach O’Driscoll, Morgan Allen (c)
Replacements: Iestyn Harris, Brynley Toms, Will Davies-King, Kieran Martin, Lloyd Pike, Ethan Lloyd, Edd Howley, Joe Gatt
Cardiff Rugby Life 