Cardiff Blues have made four changes for their crunch European Challenge Cup semi-final against Pau on Saturday (1pm).
The Blues secured their Cardiff Arms Park knockout with an emphatic quarter-final victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
Danny Wilson’s men are in a rich vein of form having won nine of their last 10 first team encounters. They also claimed a pair of victories over Pau during the group stages of the competition last season.
Three of the changes come in the pack, with a whole new front-row of Gethin Jenkins, Kristian Dacey and Anton Peikrishvili. In the backs Owen Lane returns to the starting line-up.
Wilson is delighted to welcome the experience of Jenkins and Dacey back into the side, and is relishing a special occasion at the Arms Park against formidable French opposition.
“It’s good to have Gethin and Kristian back for their experience and it gives us some more depth in the squad.
“For us to get off to a flyer is really important, there will be a big atmosphere, a lot of nerves and you have to bring that physicality early on to set the tone. The physical battle will have a major part in who can get over the line and get the win.
“It's a massive opportunity to go and have a big day out in a European final, which we're all extremely motivated by.
We have a chance to do something special, but we won't get ahead of ourselves.
“The opposition we're facing is a very strong one. They are well-coached, they have a very aggressive defence and we need to deal with that.
“But we are on our own patch and if we get our game-plan and execution right then hopefully we will be sat here on Saturday night going to a final.
“We're at the Arms Park, hopefully a packed-out Arms Park, with a derby feel about it and those are the days and occasions that we want to be part of.”
Jenkins, who captained Cardiff Blues to the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup title, leads the team once more.
Alex Cuthbert gets the nod on the wing for what will be an emotional final appearance at the Arms Park before a summer move to Aviva Premiership champions, Exeter Chiefs.
Cardiff Blues: Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Owen Lane; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Kristian Dacey, Anton Peikrishvili, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Gill, Scott Andrews, Damian Welch, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.
Tickets for Cardiff Blues v Pau at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (1pm) are available now on a limited basis. Please call 029 20 302030 or click here.