James Sheekey and Seb Davies will all make their debuts for Cardiff Blues as the region returns to LV=Cup action away to Wasps at Ricoh Arena on Sunday afternoon ( kick-off 2pm).
The pair are handed first-ever senior outings for the Blues, in a team captained by Ellis Jenkins, that contains a mix of youth and experience.
Wales international Craig Mitchell packs down with Rhys Williams and Tom Davies up front while lock Miles Normandale joins forces with Seb Davies in the second row.
Newcomer James Sheekey joins Macauley Cook and skipper Jenkins in the back row.
Centre Adam Thomas is paired with Garyn Smith, who made his debut earlier in the season, in midfield.
Argentine, Lucas Amorosino is on the wing with Richard Smith and Joaquin Tuculet completing the back three. The half back pairing is Rhys Patchell and Lewis Jones.
The bench contains another potential debut in Flanker, Jordan Viggers who is in line for a first team bow if he comes on at the Ricoh Arena.
Richard Hodges, Elite Performance Pathway Manager at the Blues, said "The game is another chance for players on the fringes of the first team and at Academy standard to step up to the plate and gain exposure to regional rugby.
"It is great to have Ellis involved again to lead the group and help bring up the standards, supplemented by the likes of Macauley Cook, Craig Mitchell, Rhys Williams and Rhys Patchell.
"We have a good core to the squad that allows us to feed the younger players in.
"We have our under 20 boys this week, who will then go off to Under 20s camp on Monday so we want to give them some exposure this week.
"A few players will be making their regional debut this weekend. They are boys who have been in the Blues set up now for four or five years and everything has lent itself to a day like Sunday, which will be a great day for them and their families.
"We are two out of two, if we don't get the win this weekend it will be tough to get through. We have to get the win on Sunday."
Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Adam Thomas, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lewis Jones; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Rhys Williams, 3 Craig Mitchell, 4 Miles Normandale, 5 Seb Davies, 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 8 James Sheekey.
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Ben Roach, 20 Jordan Viggers, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Simon Humberstone, 23 Geraint Walsh
Friday, 30 January 2015
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