Callum Sheedy will captain Cardiff for the first time as Matt Sherratt makes nine changes for Saturday’s trip to face Edinburgh.
With injuries and match minutes building, Sherratt has opted to refresh his side for the BKT United Rugby Championship Round Five encounter at Hive Stadium (17:15 KO).
Five changes come in the back-line where Sheedy resumes his partnership with Aled Davies. Rory Jennings makes his competitive debut for the club, while Iwan Stephens and Gabriel Hamer-Webb come onto the wings.
In the pack, there are four further changes with Daf Hughes and Rhys Litterick handed starting spots alongside Ed Byrne. The second-row remains unchanged for the fifth straight week.
Meanwhile there is a welcome return to fitness for Thomas Young, who makes his first appearance of the season, with James Botham stepping up from the bench and Alun Lawrence holding onto the number eight jersey.
Sherratt expects a formidable challenge in Edinburgh, after the Scots claimed an impressive bonus-point victory over DHL Stormers last weekend.
He said: “Edinburgh are a very good team. The last two times we have played them, they have brought a really physical edge and we have to match, if not better, that.
“They will be looking to build on last week’s win and we have to meet them head on in what will be a big challenge.
“We need to go up there with a real kind of underdog attitude. We've got to go up there with a chip on our shoulder and make sure we're the aggressors - that we don’t lie down and we don’t sit back.”
There are further welcome returns from injury on the replacement bench with Evan Lloyd overcoming a hip pointer injury and Alex Mann back to make his first appearance of the season.
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Mason Grady, Rory Jennings, Iwan Stephens; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Ed Byrne, Dafydd Hughes, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Thomas Young, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Johan Mulder, Ben Thomas.
Unavailable for selection: Josh Adams, Liam Belcher, Jacob Beetham, Gwilym Bradley, Theo Cabango, Efan Daniel, Seb Davies, Tinus de Beer, Corey Domachowski, Ben Donnell, Taulupe Faletau, Harri Millard.