Josh McNally will captain Cardiff Rugby as they make six changes for the visit of Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday (17:15).

The second-row, who joined from Bath in the summer, leads the Blue & Blacks for the first time with club captain Liam Belcher injured and regular deputies Teddy Wiiliams and Ben Thomas away on Wales duty. 

Three of the changes come in the pack, with Daf Hughes and Rhys Litterick handed starting spots after international call-ups for Evan Lloyd and Kieron Assiratti. Seb Davies joins McNally in the second-row. 

Behind the pack, there are three further changes with Johan Mulder and Callum Sheedy forming the half-back partnership and Cam Winnett returning at full-back. 

Matt Sherratt said: “It’s great to return to United Rugby Championship action and we are in a decent place in the table, following a good start to the season. 

“However, we are under no illusions of how tough it is going to be on Saturday, against a strong Sharks team. We have done well against them in the past but this will be a level up and we have to put as much of our game on the pitch as possible. 

“The depth of the squad is really being tested at the moment but we are on our pitch, in front of our home support and it is important that we finish this block well. 

“A big performance will put us in a strong position for the remainder of the campaign and the squad are determined to repay our supporters for the way they have backed us all season.”

Regan Grace returns to the replacements following his HIA absence, while Cardiff RFC scrum-half Ethan Lloyd provides the scrum-half cover and is in line for his URC debut. 

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Tom Bowen, Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally (c), Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Danny Southworth, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ethan Lloyd, Jacob Beetham, Regan Grace. 

Unavailable for selection: Josh Adams, Keiron Assiratti, Ellis Bevan, James Botham, Taulupe Faletay, Evan Lloyd, Ben Thomas, Teddy Williams, Iwan Stephens, Aled Davies, Theo Cabango, Ed Byrne, Ben Donnell, Liam Belcher, Tinus de Beer, Harri Millard, Mason Grady, Gwilym Bradley, Corey Domachowski.