Lloyd Williams will make his 200th appearance for Cardiff Blues in Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 encounter against Toyota Cheetahs (5.15pm).
The scrum-half, who came through the Blues academy system, made his senior debut for the region in 2009-10, and overtook Gethin Jenkins (195) on the all-time list earlier this season.
Only Taufa’ao Filise has made more appearances for Cardiff Blues (255) and head coach John Mulvihill has led the tributes to the 29-year-old stalwart, who will also captain the team against the South African outfit.
He said: “Playing 200 senior games is an amazing individual achievement for Lloyd and what is even more impressive is the fact that he has done it all in a Cardiff Blues jersey.
“He is a true role model both to our younger generations but also the young men he leads within our current squad.
“He has come right through our pathway from the Cardiff Blues academy all the way to the international stage. This milestone and his 28 caps for Wales, all achieved by the age of 29, is testament to Lloyd’s athletic ability, work ethic, determination, diligence and professionalism.”
Wales’ Capital Region go into the encounter on the back of four disappointing defeats and Mulvihill has made five changes to his starting line-up with Jarrod Evans lining up at inside centre.
That sees Jason Tovey pull on the number 10 jersey for the first time in a competitive fixture since returning to the Arms Park, while Harri Millard is preferred to Jason Harries on the wing.
The other three changes in personnel come up front with Liam Belcher returning from illness to start at hooker, Seb Davies packing down alongside Josh Turnbull in the boiler house and Nick Williams returning to number eight.
With injuries striking down Rory Thornton and Olly Robinson, Macauley Cook and Alun Lawrence are included among the replacements for the first time this season.
Mulvihill added: “Unfortunately we’ve lost Kristian Dacey, Rory Thornton and Olly Robinson to injuries, but we have also taken the opportunity to freshen things up a bit.
“At the moment we can benefit from having two ball players and two kicking options on the pitch and an axis of Jason Tovey and Jarrod Evans will give us that.
“It is vital that we get back to winning ways on Saturday and that we finish this block of PRO14 matches on a positive note before moving into European competition.
“The Cheetahs have scored more tries than anyone else so far in the competition so we will need to be at our best and I am sure there will be a reaction come Saturday night.”
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Harri Millard, Rey Lee-Lo, Jarrod Evans, Aled Summerhill; Jason Tovey, Lloyd Williams (capt); Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Will Boyde, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Keiron Assiratti, Macauley Cook, Alun Lawrence, Lewis Jones, Willis Halaholo, Jason Harries.