Cardiff Blues are set to take the wraps off highly rated Sam Moore when they face the Ospreys in Sunday’s Guinness PRO14 encounter at Rodney Parade (5pm).
The No. 8 who was on the radar of England coach Eddie Jones not so long ago features on the bench and will make his Blues debut if he comes on.
Arms Park coach John Mulvihill has made 13 changes after the lack- lustre showing against the Scarlets, with just Josh Turnbull and Josh Adams surviving from the misadventure in west Wales.
Josh Navidi leads the revamped line-up from No. 8, with Mulvihill saying: “It’s still a strong team with a good blend of youth and experience.
“It’s an opportunity to play a lot more of the squad and across these two derbies we will see 30-odd players get game time.”
The Ospreys hand a first Guinness PRO14 appearance in more than two years to former Wales U20s wing Dewi Cross.
The youngster last played in the competition against Zebre in April 2018.
He has since scored 10 tries in 24 games for Bridgend in the Welsh Premiership.
Now Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has given the 20-year-old another chance to prove his worth at regional level.
Cross is one of six changes from the side that drew 20-20 with the Dragons in Swansea. Tiaan-Thomas Wheeler comes into the starting line-up, along with Rhodri Jones, Scott Otten, Bradley Davies and Gareth Evans.
There is also set to be a debut off the bench for Mat Protheroe, who is covering the fly-half position and potentially the back three. He has the potential to be an X-factor player, with pace to burn and the ability to beat a man.
“Mat is a very good counter-attacker,” said Booth.
“He’s coming back from a bit of a bang, but he’s a guy our supporters will hopefully be excited by.
“We need to get on the front foot to allow our expressive players to express themselves.”
The match is being played in Newport as the Blues’ Arms Park base is playing a supporting role to the Dragon’s Heart field hospital at the neighbouring Principality Stadium in the fight against coronavirus.
Cardiff Blues: M. Morgan; J. Harries, G. Smith, M. Llewellyn, J. Adams; J. Tovey, L. Williams; c. Domachowski, L. Belcher, D. Arhip, S. Davies, J. Turnbull, S. Lewis-Hughes, J. Botham, J. Navidi (capt).
Replacements: E. Lewis, B. Thyer, S. Andrews, J. Ratti, S. Moore, L. Jones, B. Thomas, I. Thomas.
Ospreys: D. Evans; D. Cross, O. Watkin, T. Thomas-Wheeler, L. Morgan; S. Myler, R. Webb; R. Jones, S. Otten, T. Botha, B. Davies, A. W. Jones, O. Cracknell, J. Tipuric (capt), G. Evans.
Replacements: D. Lake, N. Smith, N. Thomas, A. Beard, M. Morris, R. Morgan-Williams, M. Protheroe, K. Williams.
