Scarlets ring the changes for Blues battle

Title chasing Cardiff Blues will face a Scarlets side which has eight changes, including one positional, from the side which demolished Edinburgh last Sunday in the Magners League.

In the backs Dwayne Peel returns at scrum half in place of Liam Davies while Matthew Watkins is switched from the midfield to wing, with both Mark Jones and Dafydd James ruled out due to slight knee injuries. Gavin Evans comes in at centre.

In the pack the entire front row is changed with Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees and Deacon Manu getting starts while Simon Easterby and Gavin Thomas replace Dafydd Jones and James Bater respectively.

Director of Rugby Davies says his side will be out to frustrate the Blues’ Magners League title hopes.

“The Blues have had a great year and will go for broke, but they’ll meet 15 men in red doing just the same,” he said. “The players did really well against Edinburgh, coming back after a couple of disappointing games that ended our Magners League and Heineken Cup hopes.

“We now want a strong finish to build a platform for next season.”

The Blues won the reverse fixture at Cardiff Arms Park on New Year’s Day 29-10.

“It’s a massive game and we know we have to play a lot better than in the win over the Dragons to come away with anything,” Blues Coach Dai Young told BBC Sport Wales.