Cardiff Rugby have made four changes for their Boxing Day derby against Dragons RFC.
The Blue and Blacks triumphed over their East Wales rivals in the last round of the BKT United Rugby Championship and finished the first block of European action with a bonus-point triumph over Toyota Cheetahs
They have stuck with the majority of the side that claimed a bonus-point European victory over Toyota Cheetahs for the trip the Rodney Parade.
Three of the changes come in the pack, with Daf Hughes starting in the place of club captain Liam Belcher, and Kieron Assiratti also returning to the starting line-up with Corey Domachowski making up the front-row.
The second-row remains unchanged, while Alex Mann comes into the starting line-up in the number seven jersey alongside James Botham and Taulupe Faletau.
There is just one change in the backline, with Gabriel Hamer-Webb joining Josh Adams and Cam Winnett in the back-three. Tom Bowen drops to the bench following an impressive try-scoring senior debut against the Cheetahs.
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: “It’s always an exciting time of year and there is a good buzz among the players as we approach back-to-back Welsh derbies.
“I always enjoy going to Rodney Parade. It feels like a proper old school derby, packed to the rafters, especially after the warm up when you walk off.
“You get a pretty hostile reception, but that’s what it’s all about. I’m really looking forward to it and the players are as well.
“We only played the Dragons two games ago, so we don’t expect much to change tactically in that time.
“But we just have to focus on ourselves, getting our own game right and making sure we put as much of it on the field, for as long as possible.”
Ben Thomas captains the side, in the absence of Belcher, while Wales internationals Evan Lloyd and Ellis Bevan return to the replacements bench.
C Winnett; J Adams, R Lee-Lo, B Thomas (c), G Hamer-Webb; C Sheedy, A Davies; C Domachowski, D Hughes, K Assiratti, J McNally, T Williams, J Botham, A Mann, T Faletau.
E Lloyd, D Southworth, R Litterick, S Davies, A Lawrence, E Bevan, R Jennings, T Bowen.